The 1997 Bull 'n Bush Christmas Revue, School of Arts Cafe, Queanbeyan. Starring Graham and Norma Robertson, Jan Carey, Coralie Wood. Weds to Sats till December 31, 1997 (except Christmas and Boxing Days).
Despite my best efforts, Mattie Hellyer, suspiciously sitting at the table nearest Tim, the judge, won the Christmas Bell last Wednesday because she knew all the words to all the songs. But how could I be resentful or judgemental on a night of Christmas cheer, enjoying excellent soup, beef and Christmas pudding?
The night is light, an eclectic collection of titbits and we certainly weren't bored. The "stars" above are the whole cast and they worked well together in the constraints of the tiny stage, though I think I would give my Christmas bell to Norma Robertson on the grand piano. Her 19 years' experience playing for Rep's Old Time Music Hall held the show together.
Unpretentious is one word I heard to describe the Revue - a relaxed approach which put together items like the Brick Story (Why I Am Not At Work Today) made famous by the wonderful Hoffnung, and told well by Graham Robertson; the audience banging our bon-bons in unison; lots of New York Jewish phone calls; singing Master of the House from Les Mis with reference to Maitre d' Bill Stephens; more mobile phone conversations; I Wanna Be Rich, Famous and Powerful sung by Coralie in the guise of a failed Barbra Streisand and so on.
Critics were given the goodbye in I Wanna Be Rich, but I think it's fair to comment that only some items actually qualified for the title Revue. Absurdity, ironic humour and satire are key revue elements, and these appeared occasionally between entree, mains and sweets. Oh No, John Howard ("Will he leave us in a mess? Oh Yes, John, Yes!"), an awfully funny geriatric Let's Do It, My Body is Nobody's But My Own, and the Anorexic Ballet Girls were the genuine articles - for me the highlights of the night, and the pieces which clearly were appreciated by the house, which was just about full.
In other words for a bit of Bull 'n some satirical Bush you'll need to book well ahead on 6297 6857.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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