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Arts / Funny business as usual

Drew Forsythe as Bronwyn Bishop. Photo by Brett Boardman
Drew Forsythe as Bronwyn Bishop. Photo by Brett Boardman
“THIS year we’re covering both sides of politics, the Malcolm Turnbull side and the Tony Abbott side,” Wharf Revue actor and co-creator Drew Forsythe tells “CityNews.”

After last year’s “coup de theatre” when the Canberra edition of The Wharf coincided with Turnbull’s ascent to the prime ministerial ranks, Forsythe will reprise his role as our nation’s leader, but he’s been fine-tuning that part for a while, having previously played “Malcolm in Exile”, as Napoleon.

This time the cultural inspiration is neither Canberra nor Elba but Ancient Rome. The set is a large piece of fake marble suggesting the Forum and the focus gives the creative team – Forsythe, Jonathan Biggins and Phil Scott – a chance to portray a great deal of plotting as a cavalcade of characters such as Ericus Abettus, Kevinus Andrusis, Clulus Kattus and Giuliana of the Vacillating Virgins ply their political trade.

“In Roman times people stabbed each other in the back, we do it metaphorically,” he says.

This year Katrina Retallick succeeds Amanda Bishop in the female roles, played over the years by actors as diverse as Jacki Weaver, Genevieve Lemon, Valerie Bader and Helen Dallimore. Retallick, best known for the TV show “Comedy Inc”, brings a fabulous singing voice to the revue, allowing her character, Hillary Clinton, to stop the show with “Nobody’s Going to Piss on My Parade”.

Biggins, who is very tall, gets the prize part of Donald Trump and it occurs to Forsythe that so many political leaders have been tall – Bill Clinton, Obama, Paul Keating – “Although Bob Hawke, John Howard and Kevin Rudd were all quite small,” he says.

Forsythe reports that musical director and the third part of the creative team, Phil Scott, is surviving well in the post-Rudd era – Kevin was his favourite stage character. Not to worry, he shines in the characters of Pompus Brandis, Hinchus the Gladiator and Sinodinus the Greek, as well as singing a menacingly light-hearted song about how to be a terrorist.

Forsythe himself, one of the writers, is known for his dark scripts. This year he has created a tribute to the late Bob Ellis, a great supporter of the Wharf Revue who would bring friends and pollies along 10-12 times a year. In the skit, which he describes as “sentimental”, Ellis gets to heaven and find out it’s not just for ordinary believers, they must be True Believers.

Elsewhere, the team does a movie segment on Brexit called “Carry on up the Exit”, Jacqui Lambie gives Pauline Hanson tips on how to do politics and the Democrats consider a comeback, noting that almost anyone can get into the Senate.

In short, it’s business as usual for The Wharf.

Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf Revue, “Back to Bite You”, The Playhouse, September 13-24. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or call the Box Office on 6275 2700.

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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