OPENING the night after Malcolm Turnbull took the leadership of the Liberal Party from Tony Abbott, The Wharf Revue had a particularly vibrant resonance with its Canberra audience.

The attack on the political subject matter and the clarity of each scene made the comedy satire sparkle with dazzling speed and incredible skill.

Jonathan Biggins, Amanda Bishop, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott are simply the best in the business. With some material written less than 24 hours before performance, the sharpness of the musical harmonies, the timing of the delivery and the ease of characterisation was simply stunning.

While the whole production was very snappy, there were some stand-out moments – Scott performing a ballet in a tutu and then playing “excellent” art on a grand piano as George Brandis; Forsythe and Biggins as Hawke and Keating in a nursing home and Bishop and Scott as Gillard and Rudd in “Phantom of the Opera” mode were delightful satirical scenes.

The extraordinary skill of the company though was probably best demonstrated by the visual demonstration of Turnbull’s ascendency to the prime ministership.

The art of revue is in very sure hands with this team. It is no wonder the production is able to draw full houses while celebrating 15 years of presentations.