The Habbott – An Elected Journey - The 2014 Uni Revue

The Habbott – An Elected Journey - The 2014 Uni Revue
Written by: Peebles, Paine, Dwyer, Paine, Morrisby, Armitage, Smith, Croall, et al. Presented by: Old Nick Company Inc. Director: Graeme Paine OAM and Nick Paine. Musical Direction: Andrew Morrisby. Theatre Royal, Hobart. 9th – 24th May 2014

The Old Nick Company Inc presented its 66th Uni (of Tasmania) Revue this May, releasing yet another satire on the, by now, very suspecting Tasmanian audience. The Old Nick Uni Revue has been predictably funny, naughty, crass, satirical, silly and saucy for more than six decades.

In ‘honour’ of the current Prime Minister, this year’s Revue, titled The Habbott, An Elected Journey takes a poke at federal politics as well as lambasting local pollies. This is the 17th year that Graeme Paine OAM has directed a Uni Revue.

The Old Nick Company’s annual theatrical bout of political satire, satirical song and dance numbers, parody, and the occasional nudey-bit is a sure-fire formula to attract, and sometimes retain, new audiences. Nothing is sacred, and sometimes the crassness and irreverence can offend, so don’t attend a Uni Revue if you can’t have a laugh at your own, or someone else’s, political failings.

This year’s Revue was full-on with energy and verve, performers giving it their all, and having fun. Enthusiasm is infectious, and the audience certainly appreciated the show. The musical numbers were well executed, with the excellent backing of a five piece rock group featuring, and under the musical direction of, Andrew Morrisby.  Excellent costumes, wigs, makeup, lighting and stage effects added to the overall slickness, and showed the broad range of behind-the-scenes expertise that makes these shows so successful. Live numbers were interspersed with video sketches, keeping the pace going, and showing the range of comedy talent in the community.

I could have heard less of the re-cycled one-liners and more topicality. Recent political antics were ripe for satire, but not as evident as I would have expected, possibly due to the production/rehearsal time-frame. Are the writers getting tame, or just trying to satisfy a broader audience? Never mind, another year of laughter from Old Nick, a new crop of performers with musical comedy experience, and a new cohort of theatre-goers converted to live theatre and. Well done!

Merlene Abbott 

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