Interview with Jim Lawson.
There seem to be political implications in your show “An Inconvenient Fruit”. What do you think of the current state of political comedy in Australia?
..Peter Costello definitely gets some weird love in this show; John Howard surfaces as a lost retiree and Peter Garrett gets a mention but only Howard surfaces as a character. It’s mainly about Jim Jones and his appalling self help forum. The show is filled with quite a few different characters who are not political at all.. which Jim is running because he’s likely to lose preselection after that incident at Goanna’s nightspot – see the photo of him with a lemon in his mouth…...and he’s heard he can make a sweet buck at it..it was good enough for Al Gore …and if it doesn’t work out he could always end up on Dancing with the Stars.
As for political comedy… there’s not so much around especially now that Glasshouse got the arse. And that was a particular format for tv. Apart from Max Gillies who was doing Hawke and Howard there are not so many folk doing shows that tap into the political arena apart from standups who use political material as part of their schtick. Corrine Grant is subtle but it’s always present in her stuff, the beauty is she combines it with that kinda daggy human experience…it’s very accessible, charming and disarming. Did I just flirt?
Times have changed too.. Rod Quantock – is still flying the flag…but more gently these days and fair call. He’s done his fair share. I certainly try to make a point…I suspect political humour is less sexy…but I’m working on that. Jim Jones is dead sexy…in a very wrong seventies kind of way…he’s the love child of singing legend Tom Jones after all.
Would you describe “An Inconvenient Fruit” as a theatrical piece?
I fucking hope so…. ! Seriously, it’s my first ever cabaret. I’ve sung before so that’s ok but it’s a whole different form and I’m kinda digging the fact I can get a bit intimate and honest with the show.
The Butterfly club is a a smoking venue..I don’t mean it’s a smoking venue…I mean love the feel, awesome bars, and you are right in it , there’s nowhere to hide as a performer, you’re exposed baby….it’s just a tad exciting…but not in a masturbating on stage kind of way…..I’m glad I edited that scene out now.
You have accomplished collaborators such as John Thorn and Netty Evans in this show. How have you found the collaboration process?
It’s been a complete joy. Such a radical concept. I wonder why I haven’t thought of it before. I mean that. There are so many collaborators on this show I considered taking my name off the flyer. And they have given and given of their talent and I’m a little humbled…and it’s a great incentive because they will kill me if I fuck this show up.
You are appearing at the Butterfly Club which is a staunch supporter of musical comedy and cabaret. How important is a specialty venue such as this?
It’s my very first appearance here and that’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I can honestly say I was so inspired seeing The Beautiful Losers at the Butterfly Club…what a show…dark, ballsy, wrong and musically stunning….did I just flirt again? And the support David and Neville offer the artists is extraordinary. It is THE venue for cabaret without doubt and it’s name says it all….out of the cocoon….time to shine….... there are legions of great performers who’ve forged their early careers here…Eddie Perfect comes to mind. He’s done….ok…I guess… You know…he’s got a bit of talent….it’s not like that’s his real name or anything….......oh it is? ...bugger…
Tell me about “An Inconvenient Fruit”.
An Inconvenient Fruit is about all the lemons we buy in life…Could be a car… Or shallow spirituality,...maybe botox,.... Tesltra voice recognition, ....desal plants, or the mortgage we can’t afford for the big house we don’t really need… ....the things we get sold by the banks, the magazines, the government….It’s personal for us all including me…Jim Jones is there to make a shitload of money by lecturing all the little people on how to fix up there messy lives and to ‘make lemonade’ but we discover he’s bought more lemons than anyone and the great joy is in watching him unravel before our eyes. ...even at the end he doesn’t really get it…but that doesn’t actually worry him. Along the way there are revheads and housewives,John Howard, Jim’s mother Lola, and even a penguin attending the forum …..all with a story and a song…quite a few original, some bluesy covers and Some very very wrong…..
For full booking details go to An Incovenient Fruit
Thanks to Jim Lawson