THE  TEAM at the Wharf Revue never like to let go of a good thing as we saw once before with their memorable re-jig of an Andrew Lloyd Webber song “Rudd Never Dies.”

As was entirely predictable, comedian Amanda Bishop could not let go of her favourite character, Julia Gillard, and today the assembled media at the Playhouse were treated to an extract of the review opening tonight in the form of Bishop’s new version of the habanera from “Carmen.”

Resplendent in a seductive red evening gown, Bishop/Gillard managed to lament being “gutted and wasted by gutless men,” replacing the word  “L’Amour” with “No more,” while offstage her fellow clowns, Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe, sang a flattering chorus of “Big Fat Ass.”

It was a grand swansong, but in an aside at the media call, Forsythe was threatening to upstage Bishop when he donned a fat suit and an equally lovely frock to play Gina Rinehart.

This year’s show is called “Whoops!” and claims to be inspired by the theatre of the absurd. That’s exactly how it looked today.

The Wharf Revue, at the Playhouse until October 19, bookings to 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au