The Wharf Revue 2014: Open for Business
Image: Photo: Grant Sparkes-Carroll
The Wharf Revue is again ‘Open for Business’, as everyone’s favourite lampoonists return for another edition of their trademark anarchic political satire. Now in its fifteenth season and with plenty of political cannon fodder courtesy of our elected representatives, they press on undeterred – not even for a bottle of Grange.
“I think that over the last few years the tone in politics has really slumped,” says Douglas Hansell, who replaces Drew Forsyth in the cast. “As a kid growing up, I seem to remember things were much more dignified. There are almost Orwellian things happening now. The upshot for us is that there is so much material to use in the show.”
The Australian public’s love/hate affair with politics makes the Wharf an annual sell-out crowd-pleaser. “Satire is a form of comedy that Australians really respond to,” says Hansell, “It is irreverent and fast. Politicians make their way into our lives on a daily basis through the media so people feel like they know them pretty well. That makes them really accessible as comic material.”
Sketch highlights include the Adventures of Blinky Bill Shorten as well as Clive ‘Coach’ Palmer and the Balance of Power Rangers. “I get to play everyone’s favourite, Christopher Robin Pyne,” says Hansell, “and Jonathan Biggins does a great impromptu address by Paul Keating with a number of ‘catch-your-breath’ jokes only he could pull off.” (GW)
Oct 8-18, Glen Street Theatre, Glen St & Blackbutt Rd, Belrose, $30-70, glenstreet.com.au;
Oct 22-Dec 20, Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1, Pier 4/5, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $40-63, sydneytheatre.com.au
