Snoligoster by Amanda Grace at Alphabetti Theatre Review
Written by Stacy for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Walking into Alphabetti Theatre always creates a sense of wonder for me, that somehow you’ve stumbled into someone’s secret clubhouse. The chairs are mismatched, the walls are tagged with past performances, and the air buzzes with a welcoming community vibe. My seat was just a few feet from the stage, close enough to capture every facial expression, and there I sat waiting to meet the Snoligoster.
From the moment she emerged in her swamp-like state, all propellor tailed - demanding 'last of her kind' attention - I was strangely hooked and baffled by what was to be the next 50 minutes of my time. The premise is absurd: Florida’s tourism board has captured this mythical swamp creature, retrained her in the ways of the 'Florida Man,' and shipped her off for our twisted delight. But beneath the folklore and the comedy breaks lurks a sharper bite.
Snoligoster is not your average show. It’s an eccentric dissection of how narratives are spun, sold, and swallowed whole. It skewers the commodification of culture, the way myths can be weaponised for profit, and how political and media ecosystems shape identity until even the wildest creatures toe the line. Watching the Snoligoster parrot back the half-mad slogans of her human captors felt funny until it wasn’t; it was satire with the sting left in.
The performance walks a fine line between Fringe chaos and storytelling craft. One moment we’re doubled over at an outrageous news headline, the next we’re staring down uncomfortable truths about what happens when any old tall tale is repeated often enough it becomes gospel belief. The set is sparse and the intimate staging teeters on the awkward side of comfortable, but that just heightens the focus on the performer’s range, shifting from comedy to quiet unease in a heartbeat. I certainly went through a range of emotions in those 50 minutes.
But by the end, I realised that this was a cautionary tale about cultural distortion and the absurdities of nationalism. Alphabetti’s ability to give a platform to work that entertains while debating tough topics is alive and well here. Snoligoster is strange, satirical, unsettling - something that it needs to be. Because underneath all of the absurdity are stark issues that don't just need reflection - they need action.
Snoligoster played at Alphabetti Theatre on 7 & 8 August 2025
★ ★ ★ ★
