A cabaret about breaking up, breaking down, and feeling less broken
Watch the lyric videos on YouTube
An autism diagnosis, a crippling break up, a songwriter alone – what could go wrong? From the Green Room Award-nominated team behind ‘A Class Act’ (2016) and ‘Play Nice’ (2017), and winner of the Melbourne Fringe 2024 Access and Inclusion award, ‘What-If Island’ examines the doubts we try to brush away to hold onto our serene shores.
Feeling like her brain is fundamentally faulty, Ilana Charnelle has washed up with the wreckage of her relationship and her neurotypical life. Through storytelling and original song, Ilana questions how long you can live in fantasy, what happens when you look for answers in the wrong places, and how to love our broken parts.
★★★★★ “Rage, humiliation, sorrow and ultimate clarity is presented with raw and unflinching honesty. Easy on the ears though piercing on the soul.” (Theatre Matters)
★★★★ “A stunning voice…her clever lyrics demand repeated hearings” (The List UK)
★★★★ “Charnelle captivates the audience through song and monologue….When she hits the high notes, she taps into her visceral pain, giving goosebumps.” (The Age)
This show premiered as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024 (as ‘Flies on What-If Island’)
Ilana Charnelle 