After triumphs at last year’s Melbourne Fringe and the Falls Festivals, The List Operators (Matt Kelly and Richard Higgins) are back to create some list making mayhem.
Entering the Lunch Room, a lot of things were happening prior to the start of the show, perhaps to the point of sensory overload. Around the walls of the room were humorous lists that were random and brilliant and a sign of things to come. The house music was an overdubbed version of Sade’s “Smooth Operator” that constantly referenced the shows’ title. While you were taking all this in Matt dashed about the stage marking off a pre show check list of seemingly random objects while Richard stood on the stage with a rather annoyed and bored look on his face.
The show itself was an endless series of list creating segments. Using a wide array of props and silly acting to demonstrate the points, and utilizing some audience suggestions, the lists were scrawled onto an easel. We had lists about people that had been wronged in the past in which the crowd were encouraged to confess their indiscretions, a clever list linguistically analysing a previous list and one that was used to scold Matt for having lusty thoughts about a well know film reviewer. It was a fast paced show that was a little exhausting at times and kept the laughs flowing.
They created a classic pair of comedic personalities in The List Operators; Matt played the silly highly excitable one, while Richard portrayed the authoritative one who constantly frowned at Matt’s antics. They bounced off one another seamlessly and had the perfect stage dynamics. Matt threw himself around the stage in a whirlwind of energy as Richard tried to reel him in.
They employed plenty of word play, especially in their ‘climactic’ conclusion that involved some audience participation. This was another show I have seen this festival that is competing for the lamest pun sequence award with one that was hilariously dire, complete with elaborate props.
A mix of old and new technologies were used in the show with the low tech butchers paper that they wrote on and the “letters” segment in stark contrast to the laptop that was used to provide a soundtrack to the show. These snippets of music and sound effects played a huge role in the performance employed as wacky punctuations to drive the jokes home. This cacophony helped to create the appropriately chaotic and crazy atmosphere to the show that was in stark contrast to the clinical methodology usually associated with list making.
The List Operators are a unique duo who have created a fun rollercoaster ride of a show that was was a rather unique experience.
Visit the Comedy Festival Website for booking details.