This was my first jaunt down to Laughapoolooza and its a fabbo alternative to The Festival Club for lovers of musical comedy and Cabaret. Like the Club though, it is only as good as the performers that happen to be on that night, luckily the line-ups here are usually fantastic and I could not have wished for better the night I went.
Originally a Chopper Read impersonator from The Ronnie Johns half Hour was advertised to host every Friday, but much to my relief we had the gorgeous and appropriately musically talented Tim Minchin. I am not a fan of “Chopper” and was frankly a little worried about how he would ‘fit in’ with this kind of show and the sort of audience he might attract. Sure enough there was a drunken obnoxious yob sitting behind me who booed the Bedroom Philosopher’s achingly beautiful and funny “I’m so over girls” (while everyone else clapped and cheered) and then yelled “Get off! Where’s Chopper?” Luckily he didn’t get too out of hand, just a bit noisy and laughing at rude words instead of actual jokes.
And some of the acts were very rude indeed. Eddie Perfect sang the filthiest song I think I’ve ever heard and it was quite beautiful and became a duet but it had me gasping and out of control with embarrassed laughter at the outrageous content. I cannot even tell you what it was about. He said he had written it that very day and so he and his singing partner were reading the lyrics from bits of paper. Tim’s new song “If you really loved me”, is pretty naughty at times too, more so than his ‘Darkside’ material. One of my favourite moments of the evening was during The Renegades of Folk set when Josh Earl was seated with the melodica wind piano (a bit like a keyboard harmonica or accordion you have to blow into) on his lap, with The Bedroom Philosopher on all fours with his lips at the instrument, providing an already rather erotic image, but then upped by Tim Minchin coming up behind Josh and putting his arms around him to play the melodica. Wow. Talk about a comedy groupie fantasy!
Elbowskin did the best schtick I’ve seen them do, about the trivia to be found on the strips of ladies sanitary napkins, actually reading real ones out, and The lads from Porthole into the Minds of the Vanquished, proved to be talented performers and crowd pleasers. The only slight disappointment for me was that I’d always imagined Laughapoolooza as having a more cabaret atmosphere of tables with candles and maybe a house band rather than the bare stage in front of packed raked seating in a freezing tent (dress warmly!), but with great line-ups like these, its no wonder they have to squeeze the audience in. If you love your comedy mixed up with fine music, get along to a Laughapoolooza night at Umbrella Revolution.
For booking details go to Laughapoolooza 2006