Smart Casual – Same Mother, Different Father
Tired of the same old same old – ‘Where you from, sir? Ballarat? I spent a week there one day meself!’ Boom, boom! Want something a bit different from well-worn stand-up – a bit of vocal with your verbal? How about the singing half-brothers, Fletcher Jones and Roger David? Where else would you go for your ‘Smart Casual’?
The boys have plenty of smarts alright but nothing very casual. It’s a well-structured hour of clever dialogue, and short nonsense songs with acoustic guitar and taped interludes from the mother they share (mother generally comes to gigs but can’t make it tonight). She sends her instructions and a surprise message anyway. There’s a hint of angst on stage – the boys compete over whose Dad is the braver, handsomer and stronger. Roger mostly keeps it all bottled up behind terse retorts and shaded eyes; Fletcher is more likely to let his feelings sneak out. The lads are as alike as Twins Schwarzenegger and De Vito; they describe each other as ‘a string bean pin-head and a pumpkin-headed sofa!’ Fortunately, when feelings run too high they just break into another song.
But hush! The fathers, unsighted since birth, are due to turn up at this very gig. There will be tears and joyous reunions – the Acacia Room will be awash with unfettered emotion. The songs go on as we hold our breath – cabaret, vaudeville, jazz, silly dancing and that greedy seagull, Gavin McKenzie. Eventually the love-child of Jennifer Hawkins and Stephen Hawkings turns up but where are Daddies One and Two?
How will it all end? Well, too soon actually. If you’re looking for something right out of the ordinary, intelligent musical comedy with twists galore, this bit of Smart Casual will fit you like an Armani suit.


|
Leave your response!