21 Years & Out! Farewell Tour
Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Reviewed on March 29, 2011
Let’s do the time warp again!
In the spirit of Bert Newton and Graham Kennedy, Empty Pockets, Pate Biscuit and Bongo, Lano and Woodley, or indeed Abbott and Costello, just to name a few, come celebrate with two of Australia’s veteran comic pairings.
Looking for an evening filled with music, relaxed banter, quirky audience participation and enough pop cultural references from the last two decades to make your head spin? If that sounds like your kind of fun, then why not check out John Fleming and Rusty Berther, also known as The Scared Weird Little Guys. They could be the gig for you!
With several hundred local and international acts to choose from at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, you can’t do better than Enough Already, the duo’s latest, and sadly, final national tour.
In a deftly – paced 60 minute tribute to their 21 year partnership, the Melbourne – born comedy team are determined to go out with a bang. Routines honed and mastered through the years are showcased on the Athenaeum’s hallowed boards as a living, breathing, crazy grab bag of greatest hits.
A brief slide presentation gets the night rolling.
Snap shots introduce the audience to the guys as typical kids, then goofy teens, before documenting their performing lives on the local and global comedy circuits. Glowing accolades from Bert Newton and a tongue – in – cheek dig from Lano & Woodley highlight Fleming and Berther’s wide – reaching appeal. With two such distinct demographics in mind, Enough Already indeed has something for everyone.
The Scared Weird Little Guys’ farewell concert is jam – packed with the familiar shtick they have become known for. Fans will no doubt love hearing Party Like It’s 1985, Come to Australia, an Eminem – inspired take on Waltzing Mathilda, as well as a cracker jack version of the Lucky Star standard, I’ve Been Everywhere, one more time.
Playing on their easy synergy together, the hilarity continues with a game called Stump The Scardies.
Based on their popular radio drive time segment, audience members are asked to suggest two songs. The concept being, John and Rusty have to extract lyrics from the first tune and apply them to the music of the second. It is a truly bizarre, unique, and hilarious experience.
Popular hits thrown at the team on opening night included Cindi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun combined with ACDC’s TNT. How they got this impossible marriage to work, and did it ever, was astounding in itself.
Audience participation ranged from the obligatory torture of some front row late – comers, to playing the balcony against the stalls in musical guessing games cheekily powered by hand – bells. A brief word of warning: you may want to check your tickets before attending. Otherwise, expect to be called up on stage, volunteer your talent (and in some cases, your dignity) and become part of the laugh – filled action.
Continuing proceedings, the boys had some nifty surprises hidden up their dry cleaned suit sleeves as well.
For example, their spin on the Country and Western industry is both a whip – smart parody and loving compliment. Watching diminutive Rusty, donning a ten gallon hat, or in his case, 20 gallons, meanwhile twirling an oversized lasso, is worth the price of admission alone.
Also, for want of a better description, the duo created a tune about Melbourne using a foot powered synthesizer. Multi – laying backing tracks, they build the song out of thin air. It was an inspired moment.
Following that, as expert guitarists in their own right, another trick was to witness both of them playing one instrument double handed. This has to be seen to be believed, and it is a true testament to their talent as serious musicians.
This is definitely your only chance to see two national treasures in their element. (Although, with a wry aside to John Farnham’s many comebacks, we may see them back on the farewell trail in 2014)
The Melbourne leg plays until April 3. Don’t miss out.
Image Source: Apples & Pears Entertainment