Gemma Caruana explores female rage over the rational and irrational things that piss us off in her one-woman show, RAGE BAIT. The production delivers both comedy and catharsis through a series of musical skits that ask the question… just how mad are we allowed to get? (Image: Leia Vlahos)
By Leia Vlahos | @leiavlahos_
Gemma Caruana is mad and isn’t afraid to stick it to the man, unpacking her pet peeves on stage through a series of comedic musical sketches.
The show begins with a voiceover sharing controversial hot takes and a musical episode detailing the many, many things that get on the performer’s nerves.
The struggles of travel sickness, disappointing grades in year three, and the hardships of being a vegetarian in her 20s on a hot girl Eurosummer are just a few of Caruana’s irritations.
Instead of causing a fuss… she performs a song, dance, and costume change for each grievance.
This includes the show’s highlight — an extensive deep dive into 2009 lore from Neighbours.
In this sequence, Caruana channels the collective rage we felt at disappointing TV finales and recreates scenes from neighboursepisodes.com, rewriting what should have happened — if the writers weren’t cowards.
The performer basks in the spotlight, landing each movement with a hilarious tongue-in-cheek reference, perfectly timed to a backing track.
In a powerfully funny ode to the “titans of the arts industry,” Caruana combines personal memories with relatable audience experiences in an emotional ballad about sitting for too long.
It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the delightful and cathartic brain dump unfolding on stage.
Gemma Caruana: RAGE BAIT makes for a hilarious and entertaining evening of pure thrills, quick costume changes, and reflections of just how much there is to be mad about in 2026.
Gemma Caruana: RAGE BAIT’s final show of the 2026 Adelaide Fringe will be performed on Sunday, March 1, at the State Library’s Courtyard of Curiosities. Tickets are available here.
ontherecordunisa.com 