Abroad with Two Men
by Jonathon Biggins, Phil Scott, Linda Nagle
Melbourne Comedy
Festival
Capitol Theatre Tues
to Sun 7pm until April 20, 1997
Reviewed by Kate Herbert around April 5, 1998
The best of comic
songs and scathing satire: that's Abroad with Two Men.
If you think Arts Festivals are over-priced, over-funded and
overly-artsy, you'll love this biting send-up of the bizarre, the eccentric and
just plain weird acts that make it to our shores.
Jonathon Biggins plays host as an assimilation of every
big-shot festival director for the single remaining Festival that amalgamates
all our festivals. He introduces The Agnostic Gospel Choir - who are
"wholly unconvinced" about God - and the Three Clansmen, singing
Scots thugs.
The Royal National Theatre Company of Lord Howe Island who
do an "original" version of Fiddler on the Roof with local
references. It is an impeccable musical send-up.
Imagine the "official stand-up comedian for the Liberal
Party". Biggins portrays him as a
tetchy Peter Costello with terrifyingly accurate anti-dole-bludger gags vowing that
"one in four punch-lines has got to go". Biggins impersonations are
uncannily real. He does Barry Otto and Julian Clary to a tee.
Linda Nagle does a
droll satire of Tap Dogs called "Tap Slobs" and Phil Scott's John
Michael Howson reading Snowy River is sublimely accurate. Scott's song lyrics
and piano-man skills have been a feature of numerous ABC television comedy
shows.
The talent of this trio is awesome. They keep appearing with
new characters, another instrument or musical style for three excellent voices.
The finale is the icing on the cake. Funding for the Sydney
Olympic opening ceremony has been cut to $115 so the Scouts have been enlisted
to perform it on two recorders and a cheap Cassio.
Biggins as a Queen
Scout in lime green leotard, does a dance version of every sport in the Olympiad. His Pommel Horse
gymnastics is so funny I still hurt.
It goes on. I can't tell you everything but it one of the
skilful and hilarious shows I've seen in the Festival. If you're sick of
stand-ups, see it.
KATE HERBERT
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