“From Barnaby Joyce, to Gladys Berejiklian, to Craig Kelly and Mark Latham, the Revue shows us once again that Australia isn’t likely to run out of ready-made lampooning talent anytime soon.“
“There were many cheap jokes which the audience reveled in, but these were buffered by scenes of pathos”
– Julia Newbould
4 / 5 stars
Can of Worms is the title of this year’s Wharf Revue – and the team didn’t have to do much fishing to find the best of our political landscape to lampoon. From Barnaby Joyce, to Gladys Berejiklian, to Craig Kelly and Mark Latham, the Revue shows us once again that Australia isn’t likely to run out of ready-made lampooning talent anytime soon.
It was a welcome return for the cast – Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, Phillip Scott and Mandy Bishop. Many audience members were stalwart Revue supporters but there also seemed to be some fresh attendees – perhaps reflective of the new venue, or new management of the Revue. The team has taken back the revue from the STC and is now running it independently.
It’s been a hard year for us all – and it was difficult to avoid a slightly ‘depressing’ tinge. A brilliant musical number with Bishop becoming the loud and proud Michaelia Cash was so well done – but her portrayal of the “cold hard Cash” was funny but also made me shudder. Bishop also excelled as Jacquie Lambie at anger management training, as did Biggins with a typically savage and obnoxious Mark Latham.
The highlight for me was Phil Scott’s Scomo number – starting to the tune of the Banana Boat Song and ending with Les Miserable’s Bring him Home – begging God to take him back was just stunning. Scott’s musical dexterity was superbly showcased – with the added benefit of not actually having to play the PM.
Kevin Rudd continues to be an easy and rewarding target for the team – and Scott once again played to perfection the former PM bemoaning PMs who can’t keep out of the politics of the day.
As they’ve done so well before, the team used video cleverly to break between the live skits (and to transform into their next set of caricatures). From the state leaders in their own Muppet Show, to a Harvey Norman advertising huge profits with an interest free Jobkeeper payment.
It’s always great to see the gang doesn’t miss a beat during the year’s events.
Biden came in for a gentle ribbing, while Trump was promoted with his own show – the Von Trump Family singers, with Bishop as Ivanka and Scott as an extremely short version of his freakishly tall son Barron. Somehow for me Trump was funnier this year – perhaps it’s because Jonathan Biggin’s portrayal is becoming even more Trumpian, perhaps because Trump himself is becoming more of a distant memory, and perhaps because Biggins is so Trump-like. Previously, seeing his mannerisms bordered between frighteningly good and just frightening.
There were many cheap jokes which the audience reveled in, but these were buffered by scenes of pathos – such as Forsythe as the Queen. Instead of him playing it just for laughs, his Queen spoke in a very familiar way and could perhaps have been saying the lines herself.
And when it came to the theme of home ownership for this generation – there was a tough juggle between truth and humour.
One particular scene I would have liked to have packed more punch was Mephistopheles visiting Rupert Murdoch. There’s a rich vein to mine there.Over its 20-plus year tenure, the Revue has entertained and charmed in the same vein – and for its audience it continues to hit the spot. It was great to be out, surrounded by people having a good time and a good laugh. In the end the cast received a well-earned standing ovation.
Julia Newbould, Theatre Now
Event Details
