They come from green wilderness, white sand beaches and cosmopolitan cities. They come from a land down under.

The biggest international contingent at the IndyFringe this year is a trio of Australian acts, which might seem surprising until you consider the source.

Pauline Moffat, executive director of the fourth annual festival, is an Australian native, and a believer in the value of international influence on IndyFringe. That's why she brought three of this year's hits all the way from the southern hemisphere, including:

-- "The Birdmann," a charismatic vaudeville act by Trent Baumann, 34, from Surfers Paradise. It's one of the stand-out acts this year.

-- "Tastes Funny," a physical comedy show featuring the skill and style of Rani Huszar, 32, and Daniel Oldaker, 31, of Melbourne, which has also generated strong buzz.

-- "The Honeymoon Suite," a delicious Kabaret Noir act by Mike Simic and Undine Sellbach of Tasmania, who were the underground hit of last year's IndyFringe.

Simic and Sellbach arrived in Indy on Monday, and will make the trip back to Australia shortly after the festival ends on Aug. 31. Baumann performed in Seattle before coming here, and is headed to New York on Saturday, while Huszar and Oldaker are coming off a major European tour.

All are veterans of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Moffat said this kind of world experience rubs off on the local festival, as does the performers' general level of artistry.

This year's crop of Aussies also have a certain derring-do, from Simic's vampiric face and Elvis-like costume, to the tiny, red top hat worn by Huszar, or the Birdmann's distinctive hair-do.

"There's this image that fringe is grunge," Moffat said. "But the Aussies know that the fringe is inventive -- that clever costuming can add impact to your show. It's simple, but still stylish and effective. And it generates a buzz."

Australia has a long history of street theater, said Moffat, and has successfully combined its support of busking festivals and clown schools with theatrical events peripheral to major sporting contests, from the Olympics to the Commonwealth Games. To that end, Moffat enlisted Baumann, Huszar and Oldaker to run street performance workshops last week.

"Imagine, by the time the Super Bowl comes we could have that wonderful art-meets-sport confluence," she said, "with a major attraction going on and people being entertained as they move from place to place."

The Birdmann

What: Calling himself the "Vanguard of Vaudeville," claiming he was raised by seagulls, delighting in doing nothing, Trent Baumann's act is stand-up paired with pure charisma.

Where: Theatre on the Square - Main Stage, 627 Massachusetts Ave.

Remaining shows: Tonight at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 9 p.m.

Tastes Funny

What: "Tastes Funny" brings to the stage the highly skilled antics of The Great Gondos -- Daniel Oldaker and Rani Huszar -- in a show combining comedy, action, drama and romance.

Where: Theatre of the Square - Main Stage, 627 Massachusetts Ave.

Remaining shows: Friday at 9 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.

The Honeymoon Suite

What: A self-proclaimed pair of "international icons of glamour and intrigue," Mikelangelo and Undine Francesca are lovebirds recounting their dark and witty travels across the globe.

Where: Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave.

Remaining shows: Thursday at 9 p.m., Friday at 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.