A Succulent Chinese Musical?!

I am laughing out loud as I remember watching this show last night - it was delightfully bonkers. A Succulent Chinese Musical?! is an original Australian comedy musical written by Rick Butler and Kate Stewart. The musical is about Jack Karlson, an Australian criminal, who became infamous for what he was videoed saying as he was arrested in 1991. Jack Karlson made the news in ‘91 and thanks to YouTube his slogans and demeanour have been immortalized in Australian culture.

Butler and Stewart have made an entire one-hour musical comedy about such a short moment in time. Cultural memes risk having a short comedy life. However, Butler and Stewart exploit the genre of musical theatre to find the human story that surrounds Jack Karlson. In true musical theatre form they draw on melodrama in all its glory. The main characters all have desires and yearnings that translate into song. These creators know how to write musical theatre and apply those conventions to a bizarre and loved Australian cultural event. It is the virtuosity of form and banality of theme that makes this such a hilarious transgression of the stage.

This show could easily be in the comedy category. It is so funny. It is organized chaos that rockets along at a ripper of a pace. The cast's ability to keep this high frequency of play is key, they never let anything fall flat. The audience is bombarded with so many surprising WTF moments, that we have no choice but to get on board. I love that these performers did not use microphones, it did something to make the audience lean in. It might sound simple but it also meant that the performers had to use their whole bodies to project their voices. They were articulate in their delivery, no text was lost. As I watched I kept on thinking ‘Are they REALLY doing this?!?! Yes they are.’ These performers are generous in their stupidity and have the restraint to keep it all very light.

This type of show has to have a place in Australian musical-comedy-theatre. It has this rough-as-guts, bawdy yet intelligent quality that is really accessible. It’s a piss-take, but they are not punching down, not bogan bashing, they present Jack Karlson with the bizarre dignity that came across in the famous video. This show could be performed in a pub, community hall, RSL, or a fringe festival. I get excited about that because I need theatre experiences to reach beyond the arty crowds. There is genuine heart here, talented writing and a great sense of comedy.

This musical is totally fringey, unpretentious, set and costumes look underfinanced (under what?!) but this show should not be underestimated (UNDER WHAT?!).You’ll get those jokes if you see it. Am I under a misapprehension to think that this show is destined to become a cult classic? (UNDER WHATTT?!) If you’re looking for fancy schmancy theatre this is not it. But if you’re looking for a squealingly hilarious, thoroughly entertaining, warm-hearted Aussie piss-take then A Succulent Chinese Musical?! is for you.

Kimberley Twiner