LIVE ON ABCE 2: DEBT DEFYING ACTS! THE WHARF REVUE
Debt Defying Acts! - The Wharf Revue is on ABC2 LIVE, Saturday, December 24 at 8.30pm (Production shots: Tracey Schramm).
There is a slim chance you may have missed the Sydney Theatre Company’s latest Wharf Revue, aka Debt Defying Acts! if you haven't been paying attention, and that's a pity as it's the perfect thing for this often frenetic and stressful time of year.
But never fear, the dear old ABC is sending a crew down to Hickson Road with a few handicams to capture the year's funniest, sharpest and cleverest show for our Christmas Eve viewing pleasure.
Direct from the tawdry yet strangely magical world of Upton's Family Circus, for the first time ever ABC2 LIVE brings us the wondrous talents of Mr Jonathan Biggins as he channels Lord Mayor Clover Moore (among many and peculiar others). Miss Amanda Bishop will demonstrate why she is more Julia than Julia as Julia, Flame Haired Temptress and Queen of the High Wire Balancing Act. And, as it's an economical show, she also doubles as the Faded Rose of Yesteryear Miss Kitty Keneally among assorted pulchritudinous popsies.
Mr Drew Forsythe pulls off the extraordinary feat of impersonating Bob Katter and other assorted loonies while remaining relatively sane; and the inimitable, irreplaceable and irrepressible Philip Scott Esq not only tickles the ivories in sublime fashion but also reminds us – as if we needed reminding – of the ever-present menace of the Phantom of the Labor Caucus Room, Kevin Rudd, in Rudd Never Dies, a tribute to the oeuvre of Lord Lloyd Webber.
While it is difficult to pick out highlights without offending fans of other elements of the show, we cannot but mention the little known Shakespeare epic, The Tragedy of King Rupert, Hacked Down in his Prime, the least likely source of comedy, The Amazing Greens: Australia’s Least Amusing Clowns! and the gruesome and very awful story of How the Outer West Was Won! as Wild “Barry” O’Farrell Gets his Gun.
Once upon a time there were Christmas pantomimes, now – and for the past 12 years – the lucky among us have had The Wharf Revue; and this time you have no excuse for missing it. And who would want to anyway? What else is going to make you feel really clever, knowledgable and engaged in the process of wondering what in hell our pollies are doing with our money while at the same time, laughing your doodads off?
