The Groggy Squirrel

Toby Sullivan talks to Annette Slattery about his new show at Trades Hall, ‘N.Q.R.’

What should audiences expect from N.Q.R.?

It’s a stand up comedy show about me being stuck in Sydney for a day with nothing to do but wander around. The thing about Sydney of course, is that is is incredibly balkanised, each suburb is really tribal. People look at you in horror if you suggest crossing town. You can buy street directories in Sydney that just put a picture of a dragon and a skull and cross-bones on the page where Parramatta should be.

And while I’m wandering around during the course of this day, I’m made to feel uncomfortable in every one of these suburbs that I pass through. It’s smart, snappy stand up storytelling, written as a casual paraphrase of James Joyce’s Ulysses that explores notions of cultural identity and community.

Ahem.

Okay. I’ll come clean: it’s a whole lot of smart-arse polysyllables along the lines of “Why aren’t there more people exactly like me!?”

At least now you know. If you actually are exactly like me, you will find it simply bewitching. (If you are only approximately like me, I can’t make any such guarantees.)

You’re using Sydney as a metaphor in this show. What about folks who don’t know much about the city and the identities of its localities? Will they still understand the metaphors?

The other thing you should know, is that there’s a fair bit of gay in this show; and you know, Sydney is the Great Australian Gaytopia. So the story is unique to Sydney in that way.

However, as a cluster of urban metaphors, I find that most cities are actually pretty interchangeable. Every city has a posh bit, every city has a dodgy bit – as a matter of fact, I like to keep a list I call “The Frankston List”. It’s a list of suburbs in capital cities across Australia, that you can use interchangeably in punchlines.

It’s a metaphor, not a secret code. Trust me, it won’t take you long to suss the difference between Mount Druitt and Double Bay once you hear the jokes.

Whilst on the subject of Sydney, in your press release you suggest that the harbour city is the unofficial capital of Australia. As a loyal Melbournian this felt a bit like squeezing lemon juice into a paper cut. How do you expect this supposition to go down in front of Melbourne centric crowd gathered at Trades Hall?

Well! I hadn’t thought of that! I’ll be barred from Readings for life! I’ll be made to return all my Paul Kelly albums! John So will leave one of Lavinia Nixon’s burning turds on my front doorstep!

I know, it’s a terrible heresy for a Melburnian to suggest anything of the sort, isn’t it. But come on, be realistic – just look at the two cities side by side. What are you going to put up against that harbour – the bridge, and the Opera House… – The Floral Clock? The Astor Calendar?

Look, all I’m saying its that when ‘80s American sitcoms did their “Down Under” episode, they weren’t filming Tootie and the Facts of Life gang down at Swanston Street Timezone.

Would you describe this as a coming of age piece, albeit a slightly more advanced age than usual?

Exactly what are you insinuating! Slightly more advanced… hurrumph… You’re right, it’s a bit late in life for me to be cranking out agonised confessionals, with a quiet bit at the end where I Learn Something About Myself, etc.. isn’t it?

I wouldn’t say this is about coming of age, although there is (shame!) one of those quiet bits in the show. There are no big revelations, it’s more just an articulation of my experience. It’s not about resolving anything, just expressing how I feel about how it has all resolved.

It’s more Grumpy Old Men than Judy Blume. Ironically, only grumpy old men are likely to get that Judy Blume reference. Heh..

You are well known in the comedy industry also as a comedy administrator, specifically in your role as the Associate Director of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. How does this experience impact on your practice as an artist?

It’s a massively productive two way street. Unless you’ve gone through the process of performance before, you can’t really imagine what the highs and lows feel like. Because I do know, as a producer I’m able to genuinely empathise with the performers with whom I work.

At the same time, when I’m performing, I know exactly what advice to give me. I can stop myself developing bad habits I can see emerging and warn myself of pitfalls I’m about to fall into.

None of which stops me from occasionally leaving off the bookings number from my own posters! I’m sure that inspires massive confidence in the artists I’m producing when they see that!

Over the last few years, shows named [insert name here] the Musical have become very much in vogue in the comedy industry. With N.Q.R. are you trying to set a new trend of shows named after supermarkets? Are we likely to see Richies – the Musical in coming months?

Yeah, I’m hoping to do “Bilo High” in the Fringe, perhaps following up with “Coles Hearted Snake” and “I.G.A – Special Victims Unit.”. You’re right, retail is huge.

N.Q.R. will be playing at Comedy @ Trades, Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton; Dates: TWO WEEKS ONLY: 1st-12th July 2008 (Tues – Sat), Sunday matinee 6th July 4pm; Tickets: $22.00 Full, $17.00 Conc/Group, $15 Tightarse Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Times: All shows 8.15pm except the matinee Sunday 6th July at 4pm;Bookings: www.comedyattrades.com.au, 03 9650 5699

Thanks to Toby Sullivan