The Wharf Revue: The End Of Wharf As We Know It

It’s a sad time for political satire in Australia as the Wharf Revue team is presenting their final show ever (unless we can convince them to pull a Farnsie and treat us to a couple more farewell tours). They may be leaving us after 25 years of outstanding work lampooning the powerful and inept, but they’re doing it on a high note. The End Of Wharf As We Know It is a masterclass in caricature, with witty song lyrics, sharp dialogue, and fun dance sequences.

Every powerful Aussie pollie is under scrutiny in this show alongside some other famous faces from our TV screens, with an added dash of ridicule served up to the American oligarchs for good measure. The cast does a marvellous job of capturing the speaking patterns and physicality of their marks. Particular stand outs are Drew Forsythe’s Pauline Hanson, Mandy Bishop’s Julia Gillard and Jacqui Lambie, Phillip Scott’s Kevin Rudd and Miriam Margolyes, David James’ Clive Palmer and Peter Dutton, and Jonathan Biggins’ Paul Keating and King Charles.

While the acting is outstanding, the show wouldn’t be the same without Phillip Scott’s excellent musical direction. The songwriting is astute, with the musical numbers creating some of the show’s greatest highlights. The cast’s singing and playing of live instruments on stage is top notch. Angus Taylor Swift, Boomer Song, Jacqui Lambie at the Midwinter Ball, I’m Bandt are all hilarious, while America brings tears to my eyes with its beauty and poignancy.

Technically speaking the show is exceptionally well lit by lighting designer Matt Cox, whose work adds dynamism and is perfectly timed for dramatic effect. Video designer Todd Decker’s work delivers excellent backdrops for the changing scenes. Hazel and Scot Fisher’s costume designs are flawless, particularly when it comes to dressing Angus Taylor, Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hanson, Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley, Clive Palmer, and the Simpsons’ style characters in the Homer Dutton sketch.

This show is billed as a ‘joyous yet bitter-sweet send-off’ and I have to agree. You can definitely feel the love in the room for The Wharf Revue, tinged with a hint of sadness that comes when something beautiful is reaching its end. The singing, dancing and acting is wonderfully entertaining and the writers refreshingly treat the audience like we have brains in our heads. It’s such a welcome change from the barrage of entertainment that is dumbed down ‘for the masses’.

It’s the end of Wharf as we know it, and I don’t feel fine. I do appreciate the 25 years of outstanding shows they’ve presented and the hours of work they must have put into writing and development. This is your last chance to see these brilliant entertainers working in this format, so if you’re reading this in time, get your tickets and enjoy the Wharf’s last hurrah!

Kitty Goodall

Photography by Vishal Pandey

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