Created by
Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott.
Lighting
Designed by Matt Cox. Sound and Video Design by David Bergman
Costume
design by Scott and Hazel Fisher.
Presented by
Canberra Theatre Centre and Soft Tread Enterprises.
Canberra Theatre until 20th November 2021
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens.
 |
| Phil Scott - Mandy Bishop - Jonathan Biggins - Drew Forsythe |
They’re back! With more of the same but all completely new!
It was an
inspired choice to celebrate the re-opening of the Canberra Theatre Centre, following
the easing of Covid restrictions, with the World Premiere of The Wharf Revue’s
latest offering, “Can of Worms”.
For a while
it seemed we were going to lose this much loved theatrical treasure with the
creators making retirement noises. But it seems a change of management has set
the combined creative nostrils flaring, and they’re back again, albeit in a
slightly less lavish production, but displaying all the same rapier-sharp wit
and naughtiness we’ve come to relish, as they pick their way through the current
political can of worms.
They send
themselves up rotten with a bright opening number set in a delightfully tacky
op-shop, in which they change their own curtains, props and costumes, to
explain their new production values. But the audience was not fooled for a
minute, for although the show lost a little of its intimacy and looked a bit dwarfed
having to be presented in the larger Canberra
Theatre rather than the smaller Playhouse, to compensate for Covid restrictions
on seat numbers, they were quick to welcome it back with a warm, enthusiastic response.
 |
| Mandy Bishop - Jonathan Biggins |
Familiar targets
included Donald Trump, scarily planning his comeback; a bumbling Biden; Scomo
of course, offering a dash of Harry Belafonte; the Queen ruminating on her
errant family; Rupert Murdock arguing with Mephistopheles; Michaelia Cash out-singing
Shirley Bassey; Jacqui Lambie bemoaning the state of the Senate and a curiously
poignant Gladys Berejiklian, accompanied by a supportive bouzouki band, reflecting
on her miserable year.
 |
| Phil Scott - Jonathan Biggins - Mandy Bishop - Drew Forsythe |
A brilliant
send-up of the soon-to-be-seen-in-Canberra musical, “Come From Away”, re-named “Go
Far Away”, commenting pointedly on our refugee resettlement record; an increasingly
frustrated Pauline Hanson attempting to keep her belligerent party members on
track; and a bewildered Dorothy trying desperately to find affordable housing
in Emerald City, are only a few of the memorable highlights in a packed,
non-stop program.
Chameleons,
Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, Phillip Scott and Mandy Bishop make up the
entire cast. Between them these highly skilled performers conjure up a
multitude of characters with uncanny accuracy and bewildering speed, changing costumes,
voices, even sex, as they perform their brilliantly conceived and staged
sketches.
 |
| Drew Forsythe - Jonathan Biggins |
To give away
more details of this revue would diminish the surprise element which provides so
much of the enjoyment of discovering old favourites like Jonathan Biggins
joyfully venal Donald Trump, Drew Forsythe’s malapropism- afflicted Pauline
Hanson, Phillip Scott’s wickedly self-satisfied Kevin Rudd and Mandy Bishop’s
manic Michaelia Cash.
They’re all
there, along with a whole new bevy of brilliantly observed characterisations to
be discovered and relished. Indeed “Can of Worms” could just be one of the best
Wharf Revues yet.