A Sunburnt History – Savages

The Frankston Anywhere Festival has been so poorly promoted that it’s a wonder anyone knows its on, but DON’T miss this show if you can possibly help it, tonight (Sep 4) and tomorrow (Sep 5), or you may find yourself chasing it all around the country. Mind you, it would be worth it.

This is what Fringe theatre should offer us but frequently doesn’t and it speaks volumes that Nick Waxman’s “History lessons” fill venues at the MICF as well as large regional theatres.

Describing himself as “An historian first, a comedian second”  and an all the time drama teacher when he wants to eat), Waxman is an endearing young performer who is both frenetic and funny, with energy levels that lift the roof off. Ostensibly the show is a history lesson that incorporates WHY choices were made in our settlement of the Sunburnt Country, along with WHAT those choices were and the repercussions of them.

To say Nick’s knowledge of history is vast and intricate would be an understatement ….  yet  always foremost on the agenda is the word entertainment, a word too easily forgotten amongst too many performances for whom self indulgence becomes their regular diet. He offers us silly (but witty) songs with a ukulele (including one that the audience joins in with….commemorating all 57 of our Prime Ministers), lots of rhyming wordplay….an astonishing long sequence rhyming dedication, preservation, aggravation, multiplication etc within a Sunburnt NATION…. and mimicry and sketches, including paying both roles in a conversation (another rhyme) with Governor Phillip about his homophobia. But at its hilarious core the show is a factual, though satirical, look at our past; and though we laugh, it’s not a pretty sight….and it’s (he subtly reminds us) being repeated even today.

Waxman is part of a new wave of humorists who actually have something to say. He has an agenda and it’s one we need to listen to if we truly care about what our country will become in the future. But don’t see it because of the history, or the satire. See it because it is bloody funny entertainment. As my companion said….”A distasteful story, tastefully told.”

Coral Drouyn