1996: Shortis & Curlies by John Shortis, Moya Simpson, Andrew Bissett

    Shortis & Curlies John Shortis, Moya Simpson, Andrew Bissett at The School of Arts Cafe, 108 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan.  Season: Thursdays to Saturdays till June 29, 1996.  Bookings: Phone 297 6857.  Professional.

If you are a Liberal politician confident that cutting government spending is the only way to go; or a Labour politician feeling sorry for yourself after 100 days of the new regime; or a veterinary surgeon operating out of Woden Valley; or someone who thinks that a national gun register is not a good idea; or Princess Diana; or Jeff Kennett; or even a frozen embryo who hopes to inherit your dead father's estate: then you shouldn't see this show because you probably won't laugh.

Everyone else will enjoy the spoofing and the political commentary which aids the digestion between courses of very nice food (remember it's BYO wine).  This is a cabaret which Canberra needs - except that it's in that naif country town, Queanbeyan.

Mind you, in comfortable Queanbeyan, as in the whole of Australia where most people believe they belong to the middle class, only a few of this revue's items come close to the unkindest cuts of real political cabaret.  The fashion industry's outworkers' song; the song of the failed political leaders; and especially Moya Simpson's presentation of the song of the Northern Territory's first candidate for euthanasia hint of the possibility that political satire has an essential role in social revolution. 

And do we not need such art, described by the great theorist of political theatre Erwin Piscator as "activistic, combative, political" in a time when conservative politicians are elected on false promises; and Jeff Kennett can get away with throwing sand literally in the faces and cameras of a "free" press?  I suspect that Shortis and the two "Curlies", by which we were promised to be grabbed, have done some self-censorship for the School of Arts audience.  They offer to "satirise...terrorise...every famous ignoramus, the celebrated, the over-rated, the inglorious and notorious" and they are certainly humorous on a wide range of topics; but I don't think any of those people I suggested should not go would really feel terrorised at the end of the evening. 

But maybe I expect too much of Queanbeyan: terror on Monaro Street is not something we can seriously contemplate.  As has been suggested recently, the place for the realpolitik is the Drama Department at ANU - and haven't they got enough reason to go for the social jugular!

So don't be afraid - you'll thoroughly enjoy Shortis & Curlies.  You'll sing along with the new politically correct national anthem; you'll squirm a little deliciously at the Nip and Tuck Song; and you'll have no trouble joining the final rousing chorus of the Twentieth Century.  Go for it at the School of Arts Cafe!

© Frank McKone
Canberra, Australia