Enlighten Festival, The Museum of Australian Democracy. 8 Mar 2013
Going to a show like this, one would expect a bunch of white guys, not unlike the ABC’s Chasers, filling the hour and a half with a thorough analysis of the highs and lows occurring at Parliament House in the last one hundred years (it’s the Canberra centenary after all).
And while there’s no doubt that would have been highly entertaining and completely relevant, Show us Your Mandate took a slightly different slant on political comedy.
The show features a refreshing line up including an Indigenous Australian (Kevin Kropinyeri), an Australia-phile American (Tommy Dean) and a woman who happens to be the nation’s most accomplished Julia Gillard impersonator (Amanda Bishop).
Hosted by the very personable Jason Chatfield in the Great Hall of Old Parliament House and watched over by the stern gaze of King George, this evening was filled with usual observations about political figures past and present. However, a big focus was on the highly political issues that currently occupy the country’s consciousness, with Aboriginal culture, racism, American-Australian relations, education, gun laws and voting all given the once-over.
Kropinyeri took on the difficult job of making a predominately white, middle class audience feel comfortable laughing at unfamiliar Aboriginal material, and did this inoffensively while still managing a level of daring. His somewhat camp knack for physical comedy is remarkable, with a sharp sense of timing that made for an outstanding set. His references also give a much-needed insight into contemporary Indigenous Australia, dispelling entrenched myths while utilising familiar stereotypes to break the ice. Kropinyeri’s visceral impression of a Nunga woman grooving to Whitney Houston was particularly memorable.
With the surrounding portraits of Prime Ministers and monarchs looking around the stage and begging to be made fun of, Dean utilised this opportunity efficiently (Paul Keating looked like a simpering school boy who’s just been told things aren’t going to work out for him). Being an American, the rest of his set centred around keen observations about the political and cultural differences between the USA and Australia. Cool, collected and strangely magnetic, Dean charmed the pants off the crowd with his effusive love of the Australian way of life, and the quirks that have endeared him over his 21 years living here.
The last set of the evening was that of Amanda Bishop trying out a quite creative, if somewhat baffling, comedic concept. Apparently unable to find a change room for an operatic singing gig later that evening, she made do with the stage in front of us to get dressed. While impressively warming her vocal chords in Italian and making small talk about everything from Canberra (do you talk to politicians in the supermarkets about refugees over the tomatoes?), tantric sex workshops and her early career, Bishop hurriedly changes into costume - requesting the assistance of the suspicious onlookers to help pad her bra along the way.
Running off stage half-dressed to her supposed gig, she returns moments later as her infamous and uncanny version of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. With the penny dropping and people no longer feeling ripped off at a seemingly half-arsed effort, the mood changed and the Great Hall broke into applause at the instant recognition. Finishing on a high note, Bishop showcased her refined abilities in mimicry, with ‘Julia’ giving the much-anticipated scathing analysis of the goss in Canberra, targeting the usual likes of those such as Tony Abbott and Alan Jones, but also frienemies, Rob Oakeshott and the Green’s Sarah Hanson-Young.
Overall, Show us Your Mandate was an unpredictable, inclusive and tremendously satisfying night of political comedy with a twist of Canberra. It’s think outside the box stand-up that offers a broad range of satirical styles and perspectives on the issues that both unite and divide us in this vast and diverse country we call home.
Deborah Hawke
When: Closed
Where: The Museum of Australian Democracy
Bookings: Closed
