Machomer

January 9th 2010 1:04 am | Theatre | Review - By Diana Simmonds

Is this a phenomenon I see before me?

Machomer

MacHomer Sydney Theatre Company Wharf 2, January 5-23 also at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, February 2-7, and Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, February 8-9

HOMER SIMPSON as Macbeth is possibly not the most obvious casting, but Marge as the Lady MacB is a stroke of genius. Whether she was born to play the murderous wife of the Thane of Glamis or whether being married to Homer did it to her is debatable, but as played by Rick Miller, she is perfect and perfectly hilarious.

Miller is the Canadian actor (last seen here for the 2009 Sydney Festival as part of Robert Lepages's Lipsync) who began mucking about backstage while waiting for his moment as Gravedigger No.2 in a 1990s Montreal production of the Scottish play. His uncanny ability to assume the voices and characters of The Simpsons morphed from party trick to a comedy act and then just grew and grew.

MacHomer has now travelled the world's comedy festivals, went to Melbourne and is now on another brief Australian tour. The one-man, back projected screen and multiple roles and voices are an astonishing display of vocal fireworks and witty assignment of various Simpson characters to the Sheakespearean roles. Strangely enough, the only weak(ish) link is Homer whose accent and voice veer weirdly into Irish brogue from time to time, but Ned Flanders is an obvious and successful Banquo, while it's impossible to go past Mr Burns as Duncan.

For non-Simpsons fans the idea is probably a little puzzling even though visual reminders are continually flashed on screen - knowing the characters and voices adds immensely to the fun and appreciation of Miller's skill. The same would have to apply to anyone not familiar with Shakespeare's grand tragedy although Miller's facetious running commentary is a joy to listen to.

At 90 minutes, it's the quickest Macbeth and longest Simpsons episode you're ever likely to see and also an extraordinary feat of character and voice appropriation by the super-energised Miller. And Simpsons aside, it's worth the ticket for his Sean Connery (sardonic perfection) and the "encore" of rock greats and not so greats. Not going to bother with trying for a "d-oh" wind-up. They've been done to death already.

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