Looking for Albanese

What a joy that we no longer have travel to Sydney to see the acclaimed Wharf Revue (not that there’s anything wrong with it). Now we can wallow in the comfort that is QPAC and pat ourselves on the back because Sydney has come to us with its new offering, Looking for Albanese, and if you don’t understand the literary reference in the title, you probably shouldn’t be in this audience. Actually, unless you are over forty you probably shouldn’t be in the audience anyway, as you will miss more than 50% of the references (who, under 40, would know who The Supremes are or recognise the songs in the very clever assault on the Roe v Wade decision by the US Supreme court?)

There’s a reason The Wharf Revue is iconic - it takes our sacred cows and turns them into poddy calves. As the media release promised “The Wharf Revue has fake news, fake hair and real laughs in abundance,”  and we all know that media releases never lie.

The combination of comic irreverence that is Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott has done it again, is always joyfully anticipated, and this time there’s a whole new government with a new PM, a new King, and a new plague, for material, none of which should make us laugh, yet somehow it does. Take “Albo Boggins and the Mountain of Debt” for example. We have to laugh because if we didn’t we would probably cry at the truth behind the comedy.

This marriage of social satire and slapstick is something that The Triumvirate of Truth and Talent (who write, direct and perform) have perfected over more than two decades now. They know their schtick, they know how far they can go without being truly offensive. If you want a brutal assault without mercy and peppered with more expletives than a Biker’s Birthday Bash, then go to your local pub on comedy night. The Wharf Revue is, and always has been, naughty rather than nasty, with that touch of class that Biggins brings to everything he does. Drew Forsythe is the master of mimicry and a joy in everything he does. Phil Scott is worth his weight in gold musically but is also a great comic performer in his own right. And then there’s Mandy Bishop, whose “Big Spender” parody and Jackie Lambie monologue are worth the price of admission by themselves (not forgetting her truly uncanny Julia Gillard!).

But let’s not get too smug. Queensland comes in for its fair share of lampooning in one of the highlights of the show - an extended sketch called “Albo in Wonderland”, in which Albanese (wonderfully played this time by the amazing Mandy Bishop in traditional blue dress, finds her/himself catapulted into far north Queensland where she is confronted by The Mad Katter and Pauline Hanson (both played by Drew Forsythe at his very best - frighteningly funny and accurate), and Tweedledum and Tweedledumber – better known as Clive Palmer (Biggins again) and Craig Kelly (Phil Scott) - just marvellous satire.

From a send up of the Greens in Wiggles style, to an absolute hoot take on an iconic musical in “Inner-West side Story”, this talented team takes on all the forbidden subjects of politics and shreds them subtly without needing to be crass or offensive. Even Jo Biden gets roped into the act - though he can’t remember Albo’s name. It’s cutting edge comedy, even if the edge is blunted somewhat with decorum, allowing the audience to contribute to the conversation by using their brains.

In other words, it’s classic Wharf Revue, and you would be crazier than Katter to miss it.

Coral Drouyn

Photographer: Darren Thomas

Buy Wharf Revue Videos and Scripts at Book Nook

https://booknook.com.au/product/wharf-revue-good-night-and-good-luck/

https://booknook.com.au/product/much-revue-about-nothing/