The Wharf Revue: UNR–DACT–D.

The Wharf Revue is always good for an evening’s laughing appreciation of cleverness at the expense of any politician self-important enough and loud enough to deserve it and one or two others who will forever remain engraved upon our memories, and it has returned to Canberra in 2019 in its latest incarnation, The Wharf Revue: UNR–DACT–D.

UNR–DACT–D brings us yet again the latest, sharpest observations of the most obvious suspects both domestic and international, including several newer characters drawn directly from the increasingly absurdist “real life” of Parliament House.  The avatars of Pauline Hanson, “Abbot” Abbott, Kim Jong-un, ScoMo, and Jacqui Lambie all have their piece to say or sing — and that of Mark Latham, who has made himself especially suitable as a three-faced target, left nobody uncertain of his upset feelings.  Of all the characters who appeared this year, though, my absolute favourite was a delightful codger, invented from scratch as a representative of what has been called “the quiet generation”.  He had some wonderful things to say in his absolutely truthful style, and I hope he’ll be back.

How the Revue continues to get stronger and funnier year after year is a mystery that perhaps only historians will plumb as they piece together how painstakingly the shows are written, arranged, and rehearsed.  Leaving aside the opening couple of numbers, which did little for me, the show’s musical and lyrical sophistication was amazing, and trod with enthusiasm the fine, risky line between safely acceptable and offensively crude.  (But if you’re very easily offended, don’t bother coming along, as there’s sure to be something to upset you!)  With the Revue’s creative core itself set to produce the show from 2021, I’m confident we’ll continue to be delighted outrageously.

John P. Harvey

Images: (L–R) Andrew Worboys (as a heavenly musician) and Simon Burke (as Bob Hawke); Drew Forsythe (as Pauline Hanson), in The Wharf Revue: UNR–DACT–D.  Photographer: Brett Boardman.