Jonathan Biggins, Phillip Scott, and Drew Forsythe have been putting together The Wharf Revue for 25 years, giving Australian audiences an event at which to vent, a moment to take a critical, satirical and laugh-out-loud look at the political events of the previous 12 months.
This year, as in previous years, Mandy Bishop and David Whitney join the cast to round out a impressive suite of characters and some great numbers, the musical talent of the combined group shining through, especially Phillip Scott’s impressive turns on the piano and Mandy Bishop’s stellar vocals and range.Â
This is, however, the final year, the Wharfies having decided to call it quits with this new show The End of the Wharf as We Know It!!! As they said in their press release, “It’s an opportunity to spend more time with family. At the end of the day, this is about the need for renewal. We’ll serve one last term to max out the super and then try to pick up some kind of consultancy work or do a series of “Survivor” – look, it’s too early to say but it has been an honour to serve the Australian people.”
No doubt wanting to go out on a high, they certainly have, and the audience is treated to a cracking night out and plenty of laughs.Â
The multi talented chameleon-like Jonathan Biggins opens the show as a brilliant Paul Keating, and we also get his great impression of Tony Abbot up on the big screen later on.
Bishop’s Jacquie Lambie singing her way through an emcee spot in Canberra is a real treat, as is Forsythe’s Pauline Hanson, both sketches being the most close up and personal of the songs. A three way number with Adam Bandt was amusing, and a sketch with Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer highlights their own personal and personality challenges.
There’s a great send up of the countless British celebrities of a certain vintage who front travel shows around Australia, again the female characters coming to the fore, with spot-on takes of Miriam Margoyles and Joanna Lumley.
With reference to the recent election, a sombre moment of video montage of Americana and tide- turning events in the USA’s political history slows down the pace, and then, despite never thinking we wanted to, we get to see Kevin Rudd on a dance floor.
Charles Firth, from The Chaser, told Irresistible on opening night, “To me the best joke of the night was the Chihuahua line, but you’ll have to go see it to get it!” He went on, “What is wonderful about the show is that it really encapsulates the last 25 years, it’s a complete serve. A wonderful way to go out.”
The Wharf Revue presents The End of the Wharf As We Know It!!!, by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott.
Directors: Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe
Venue:Â Seymour Centre NSW
Dates: 11 November – 23 December 2024
The show will and tour regionally in 2025, including to the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, The Joan in Penrith and the Civic Theatre in Newcastle.
