Australian Comedy Review

Lano and Woodley are the most successful comedy duo to come out of Melbourne. They are mostly associated with their outstanding talent for meticulous physical comedy, but are also skilled singers, exceptional improvisers and appealing to all ages. Colin Lane and Frank Woodley (originally his surname was Wood, but he changed it by deed poll to avoid confusion) began working together in 1987 as The Found Objects with a third member, Scott Casely. Over the next six years together, as well as performing all over Australia and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, they had their own commercial radio show for six months and were part of Channel 7 sketch show ‘The Comedy Sale’ which was cancelled after three episodes.

In 1992 Scott moved to Alice Springs and Frank and Colin decided to become a duo. Their new duo name came from childhood nicknames, though Frank’s was actually Franger, but they didn’t think that was appropriate. Their first show in 1993 was put together with the aid of the Brian McCarthy Memorial Moosehead Award, ‘Fence’ was directed by Neill Gladwyn from another famous Australian duo, Los Trios Ringbarkus. The plot involved a pretend girlfriend, which was later adapted for the 1st episode of their TV series and the main prop / set for the show was a wooden fence, which was used for a myriad of astonishing and hilarious sight gags. This show was eventually taken to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1994 where it won the highly prestigious Perrier Pick of the Fringe Award for Best Show.

Their next show, which was also directed by Neill, was called ‘Curtains’. It involved forgetting to book their holiday, a wardrobe, Frank jumping from a great height into fireman’s net held by audience members and a fabulous, unforgettable dance routine in sleeping bags. In the same year, 1995 Working Title began talks with them to develop a six-part half-hour television show. To their great delight they were able to get John Clarke (The Games) as Script Editor and the legendary Bob Spiers (Fawlty Towers, The Goodies, Dad’s Army, Absolutely Fabulous etc) as their Director. The Adventures of Lano and Woodley first went to air on the ABC in 1997 and a second series in 1999. As well as finding success in Australia and the UK the series has been sold to 22 other countries such as Canada, South Africa and India.

During this time Frank and Colin found time to co-write a novel called ‘Housemeeting’, published by Penguin. In 2000 they co-hosted the Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala and performed their show ‘Lano & Woodley Are Slick’, with its ironic and very naughty title, the show was organised chaos. ‘Bruiser’ (2001) was back to a show with a basic plot about standing up to bullies, (shadow) boxing, love, silly walks and peeling oranges.

In 2002 Lano and Woodley were presented with the Mo Award for Comedy Group of the Year. Their show that year ‘Glitzy’ included Wall N’ve Glasses and a big finale of a huge real bouncy castle self-inflating on (and taking up the entire) stage. It seems that Lano and Woodley’s prop/ sets just became bigger and more impressive as they went, but nothing could out do the impressive huge machine used as the centre piece of ‘The Island’, a motorised, revolving platform which converted into an apartment, an aeroplane, the island / palm tree, a courtroom and Heaven. ‘The Island’(2004) was their most ambitious and spectacular show, directed by Bruce Gladwin from Back to Back Theatre and brother of their former director Neill. The plot of being stranded on a desert island after a plane crash was told in flash back as Colin was put on trial (by a huge computer operated judge) for killing and eating Frank. The show was recorded and played on The Comedy Channel, before being commercially released. The following year they performed a show of all their songs which was recorded to CD and released as ‘Lano & Woodley Sing Songs’.

January 2006 brought the sad announcement that their new and final show would be called ‘Goodbye’. Lano and Woodley were calling it a day. The show was a walk down memory lane, a reprise of sketches, songs, stunts, props and much loved banter from antagonistic to surreal with a touch of melancholy. The show is being taken around Australia and will finish in Melbourne at The Regent Theatre in November 2006