The Wharf Revue - The Patriotic Rag

Satirists have to move with the times and so when the sparkling Blazey Best came on stage as the beautifully quaffed Michaelia Cash, she apologised for being late due to a staff farewell function – referencing the resignation, the night before, of the minister’s press secretary. 

Jonathan Biggins too settled in for large helpings of improvisation as Donald Trump. He wound up the audience when they didn’t get a gag. My first wife was a blank cheque….err that was blank Czech.

He had one of the most memorable songs of the night, set to “New York, New York”. Start spreading fake news. Get out of my way.  I own a great big part of it. New York. New York.

With Trump only at the start of his four year term (or heaven forbid eight year term) Biggins invested considerable time in mastering Trump’s mannerisms, giving Alec Baldwin a run for his money.

The funniest song of the night was a spoof on Peter Dutton’s citizenship, test delivered elegantly by Drew Forsythe. The silly questions included a multiple choice quiz on which Australian Gold Medal winning swimmer came out gay and whether a Budgie Smuggler was a swimming costume or a device to smuggle you guessed it - budgies.

Tony Abbott soon appeared to help answer the question. He was an easy target, with Michael Jackson’s Bad becoming I’m Mad. North Korea’s President was also suitably ridiculous bouncing around the stage.

A more subtle sketch involved the ABC’s Insiders Sunday morning TV program. Gerard Henderson and David Marr look-a-likes suitably hunched and preened on the couch.

This year’s Wharf Revue had a few less special effects than some of their recent productions. However, regular fans will enjoy what might be the last time all three writers appear on the stage together, with Phillip Scott taking a break in 2019. His talent on the piano never fails to impress. 

Just as Sydney Theatre Company’s actual Wharf is undergoing renovation, so too is the revue which was born there.

David Spicer

Photographer: Brett Boardman