The Pun

Trent McCarthy - Confessions of a Talkback Junkie

By Kim Hellard ⋅ April 23, 2007 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

The phrase ’self help’ should be enough to make anyone run for the hills. Don’t. Trent McCarthy delivers his take on the twelve steps to recovery with a healthy dose of understated cheek. Dr. Phil devotees and the like, be warned. You may be offended’we can only hope.

Starting off with a short film, McCarthy establishes his story and struggle. We meet his fellow 12 steppers and their over zealous facilitator, a man who McCarthy points out is overcoming his own addiction for facilitating groups.

McCarthy uses his caring, sharing, highly therapised tone of voice, which beautifully and quite naturally takes the piss. McCarthy also utilises the 12th step, called ’sharing your story,’ as the show’s launching pad.Ôø?Ôø? He delivers his tales of his foibles with a sense of self-pitying pathos that you couldn’t help but laugh with, and at, which is the whole point.

Ending with a performance from a very lusty song and dance man (I’m not sure what the connection is between a self help seminar and a spot of cabaret.), he was outrageous and the audience loved it.

If there was a down side to this show, it was the laughing hyena at the back of the room. You know the type, the one with the really loud and annoying laugh.Ôø?Ôø? I just hope he wasn’t one of McCarthy’s friends. If that’s the case, Trent, you don’t need him.