To set the scene: Bodgy Creek is your generic Aussie country town, and without much else going for it, footy is life. When the town’s footy team, the Roosters, get booted out of the league, everyone pitches in to organise a sportsman’s night to raise funds for their ensuing legal battle.
Damian Callinan, not being one to make a casual entrance onto the stage – (last year he collected imaginary sperm donations from punters waiting in line) – was pacing the aisles making sure every one got a raffle ticket as they took their seats. Damian was in character even before the lights went dim and treated audience members like old friends and locals to help set the tone of the show.
We are guided through the illustrious history of the town and footy club itself in this show, through a documentary film making nine year old whose naivety clearly highlights the violent behaivour of the players that is viewed as harmless to everybody else in town.
Many different speakers take turns in reliving their respective glory days and a few of the organisers often air their disapproving opinions on the guests featured. Damian glided seamlessly through his character transitions as he fluidly transformed from one memorable larrikin to the next, minus the aid of costumes or props. This is a testament to his superb character playing skills, each one being utterly convincing.
Much humour derives from the idea of culture existing in an otherwise severely uncultured town like Bodgy Creek. The feng shui practising footy coach with more knowledge of musicals than most men would care to admit, is more than a little out of place in the town occupied predominantly by Neanderthals, whose greatest concern on the night appears to be what happened to the stripper.
The guest speakers at the sportsman’s night seemed to get increasingly inappropriate for the occasion as the show progressed. I laughed out loud at two characters in particular – a camp tennis player whose love for Jesus was rather questionable, and a contemporary “word” performance artist, which you will have to see to believe. Yet it was a surprise inclusion of an Austrian conductor that finally brings some resolution to the night.
Damian Callinan’s “Sportsman’s Night” is jam packed with hilarious and unique characters – some that are completely recognizable and others that are totally original. All will have you laughing for the entire hour.
This runs for only three more shows, on the 15th, 16th and 23rd of April. For booking details check out the MICF website