If you were as excited by Justin Hamilton’s award winning Three Colours Hammo trilogy in 2007 as we at the squirrel were, then you’ll be tickled three colours pink to discover that Justin is coming back with a fourth instalment this week. Annette Slattery Interviews Justin about this new instalment.
Tell us about the latest instalment in the Three Colours series, “Bullets Over Fitzroy”.
I was approached by Simon at Willow Tales to come down and perform a couple of times after he read an interview I did here for the Squirrel. About two weeks out from the show he told me they’d decided the night was to be given the theme of triumph and so, rather than just rehash some old stuff I figured I would use it as a writing exercise to see if I could write, rehearse and perform a show in two weeks. When I thought about what I wanted to write about and explore thematically I came up with this idea that fitted the Trilogy nicely. Not only will it fit into the theme of the night in a very subtle way, it is turning out to be a statement on the last three years of shows, effectively giving me a full stop on the types of shows I’ve been performing before I get back to my roots for next year’s comedy fest show which will be a stripped back stand up show.
You have intimated that seeing this show may provide an instrumental key in understanding your show next year. Does this suggest that this isn’t the last we’ve heard of the series or will this be the final instalment?
I’m pretty certain this will be the last tale of Calliope. She has been a wonderful character that may turn up in a different medium. I’m about to relaunch (or launch properly) my website very soon so there may be earlier adventures of Calliope there, some short stories about her early life etc but as far as the world of the Trilogy this is it. The key to the show helping you understand next year’s show will not be in unlocking the show itself but in why I am going back to straight stand up for a while.
Is my sneaking suspicion that this show will reflect echoes of Ruby Tuesday right, or am I imagining things?
I think the last three years the shows have all come from a similar world. The Trilogy set out to break down how the structure of a joke works in it’s three part form, this also lead into exploring the classic structures of trilogies in general. Then the show explored story telling and the power it has over our every day lives. The Killing Joke was all about how one can lose themselves in their own stories and the ramifications of that. This year’s show was a very affectionate look at the punter and how they can lose themselves in the stories we tell. This really is about when it is all said and done, when stories have been told and you’re alone what are you left with? There are no easy answers and this show deliberately avoids confrontation and conclusion in any satisfying way because that is just how life works. I’m very excited and nervous about this show. Having only two weeks to get it right is a real workout and I am sure it will be more ragged than the original trilogy but that is kind of the point. There will still be loads of clues to the extra meanings in the shows like peoples’ names etc. One of the main characters who turns up in this story is a top shelf comedian called Harrison Jackson who returns to our shores with a show that is considered the greatest stand up show ever seen. There are loads of hints in the name to who it is making a statement about and the only clue I will give it isn’t just one person. Just as the names Calliope and Nalani were chosen very specifically for the Trilogy, there are those extra Easter eggs for the people who want them without detracting from the people who don’t.
A lot of people walked away from the original trilogy feeling a very real affection for Calliope. What kind of feedback have you had about people’s reaction to her since you first did the show?
There is a lot of love for her. I know some people were disappointed there wasn’t an actual Calliope but come on, that would mean I profited from a story about a real life dead person, that would seem quite mercenary to me. Having said that Calliope was based on a few women I know, very strong characters in themselves and the stories told echoed those real moments we shared together. As an example the way I meet Calliope in the show is the way Terri Psiakis and I became good friends. That is why the sense of loss in the shows is so palatable, they’re real feelings that we’ve all experienced. The sad truth is that one of the people that inspired Calliope died last year and now this helps inform this show to a certain extent. Basically people will be seeing a show that explores the power of stories over everybody, exploring the reality that we live in and what is real and not real. There is a sense of triumph but not from where you would expect. And finally it is an opportunity to revisit Calliope for one last time, not just for me but for anyone who misses her as well.
Justin will be performing “Bullets Over Fitzroy” this Wednesday, 2nd, at The Willow Bar, 222 High St, Northcote, starting at 8pm
Thanks to Justin Hamilton