Cliffy is Relaxed and Comfortable
Last year Cliffy was held up in a shipping container with only a mute guitarist and a bucket of water and had to change the name of his show after a visit from members of a certain motorcycle club and their lawyer. This year Cliffy (Greg Bird) is relaxing in his back shed chatting with his missus – ‘Love’ (Alison St Ledger) while youths riot outside in a similar scenario to the Cronulla riots. These can be glimpsed at times on the video screen that is also playing the part of the shed window, which mostly shows a view of the side of a house and down to the street. The suburb of Bogan Villa is under Marshall Law and Love’s two kids (fathered by two other men of course) have been sent off to Mum, who is excellently played by Mourne from The Kransky Sisters in a video phone call.
Greg bird’s Brilliantly realized and philosophical Bogan character Cliffy is a surprisingly beautiful singer and Alison’s Love, even more so. They think deeply about the world and the state of Australia today and care enough to sing songs about their thoughts and feelings, Love also plays a mean ukulele. At times I think that the microphones are a bit awkward and that it might be better if they can get some lapel mikes, but then, maybe the microphone serves to take the audience out of the play and into the song…
Greg Bird plays two other characters, their shady lawyer and Cliffy’s low life (possibly heroine addicted) brother Bongo. It’s a wonderful display of Greg’s acting abilities, but I don’t know if these characters are necessary. Bongo, who is not quite as well rounded as the character Cliffy, pays a visit and seems as intrusive to us as to his family. The farting joke is a bit too extreme for me, though he did say something that appealed to me, about Farting being the Esperanto of the masses – universally funny. Cliffy and Love return to the stage and end the show with Cliffy’s minor 3JJJ hit “Unaussie, Unaussie, Oi Oi Oi”.
Overall though, it’s a great little musical play and a lot of work has gone into this year’s production. The set is interesting – where did they get that hand-shaped chair?! The songs are great, the AV is used brilliantly to enhance the show, so where are the audience? Admittedly it’s in the tiny room down the spooky alleyway behind Duckboard House, but you should really make the effort. Cliffy is worth getting to know, he’s the (Paul Hogan) Hoges of the new millennium.
For booking details go to Cliffy is Relaxed and Comfortable