Created by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip
Scott
Musical Direction by Phillip Scott
Directed by Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe
Presented by Canberra Theatre Centre & Soft Tread
Enterprises
Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre to November 2
Reviewed by Len Power 26 October 2024
If politics is the beast we must have, at least we’ve had
the Wharf Revue at the end of each year to put it all in a better and hilarious
perspective. After 25 years, this year’s show is to be the last. Nothing goes
on forever, but the full house at the Canberra Theatre on opening night gave
the performers a well-deserved sendoff.
Once again, the quality of the humour and political satire was up there with the best. The creators and performers, Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsyth and Phillip Scott, with the addition of the other cast members, Mandy Bishop and David Whitney, presented a bewildering number of sketches, songs and film clips in which no-one in the political arena was safe from their incisive humour.
Jonathan Biggins as Paul Keating
Mandy Bishop as Joanna Lumley and Phillip Scott as Miriam Margolyes
Mandy Bishop as Jacqui Lambi
Drew Forsythe as Pauline Hanson
Running over 90 minutes without an interval, the show came to an end all too soon with a farewell song to the tune of “Seasons Of Love” from the musical “Rent”. It was hard to believe this was the last Wharf Revue but, with luck, maybe they were bending the truth like the politicians they satirise so well.
Photos by Vishal Pandey
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.