Australian Comedy Review

As of today most of the Western World has played host to PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS including Australia, the UK, the USA, Germany, USA, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Argentina and Switzerland. Puppetry of the Penis was born when Simon Morley teamed up with fellow puppeteer David Friend. Their first show at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy Festival was received as the "Outright Best Show". The name Puppetry of the Penis was originally conceived by Simon Morley, as the title of a highbrow art calendar. Released in 1997, the calendar showcased twelve of Simon's favorite penis installations (known as "Dick Tricks"). Years before, Simon's youngest brother, Justin, had shown him his first installation - 'The Hamburger'. Natural sibling rivalry resulted in the evolution of a grand repertoire of genital gesticulations. It was on New Year's Eve in 1997, with a garage full of calendars to sell and burgeoning requests for live demonstrations that prompted Simon to team up with David "Friendy" Friend and unleash their talents on the world. Friendy had already been keeping himself busy for most of the year, having created a solid business performing his repertoire of installations at Batchelorette/Hen's night's and private parties. As a young boy, Friendy began his Dick Trick career in the bath and developed his skills further when he discovered beer in college. After completing his degree in Computing, he returned to Melbourne with his own highly individual collection of hanging art. Together, Simon and Friendy's solo "acts" became Puppetry of the Penis, and a global phenomenon was born. Their debut at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy Festival was a huge hit, kicking off an eight-month tour of Australia. The national tour covered 20,000 kilometers and was been captured in the documentary Tackle Happy. Subsequent sell-out runs in Sydney and Melbourne encouraged the boys to take their wares to the 2000 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, where they were humbled by yet another sell-out run. When a West End producer realized the potential of the show (after attending a performance where the woman sitting next to him wet her pants laughing), the world was no longer safe from the Art of Genital Origami! Contracts and mops were brought out, and a deal was made on the spot: PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS was on its way to London's West End. Initially booked for a five-week run at London's Whitehall Theatre, the overwhelming response led to numerous extensions. The show finally closed after an astonishing five-month run. Simon and Friendy became the darlings of the West End, delighting London's A-list including Hugh Grant, Naomi Campbell, Elton John, Bono and The Beckhams. In September 2001, on the heels of a smash hit run in Toronto and a successful tour of Canada, PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS opened in New York at the John Houseman Theatre, where it played for nearly 2 years. By 2002 a second and third American company opened at LA's Coronet Theatre and San Francisco's Theatre on the Square. These two productions plus the international companies highlighted 2002 as being the phenomenal year when eight companies started playing simultaneously worldwide. The year was capped off by a memorable appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which was one of the highest rating shows of the year. The PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS juggernaut continued to gain momentum, with Simon & Friendy parting ways (temporarily) in 2003 & 2004 to focus on conquering both the USA & Europe simultaneously. During this period PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS was translated into Mexican, Spanish and French! 2004 also saw Friendy & Simon reunited for a second West End Season, this time at The Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. After five years touring the world and successes from The West End to Broadway, it was time for the boys to come home & hang up their capes. In 2005 they launched their 'So Long' tour and prepared to say good bye. Little did they realize that Australia had not finished with them yet and they subsequently toured Australia extensively throughout 2006 and 2007 doing the 'Resurrection' tour. PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 8 consecutive years, consistently selling out the prestigious Debating Hall at the Gilded Balloon! During the Decade of Dick in 2008 (or as they like to say 'A Dickade'!), Simon & Friendy were in demand touring Canada, USA, the UK, South Africa and every Australian State & Territory. 2009 sees the introduction of the next generation of puppeteers! NACHO REGAL Nacho is Melbourne born and bred! Immediately after graduating from high school, Nacho began a Pastry Chef apprenticeship, where he trained at the prestigious 'Ecole Lenotre' in Paris! However, it was the environment of his local football club "The Bull Ants" and their social scene that Nacho discovered where his true talents lay! Always the first to drop his strides and do a late night 'nudie' run, Nacho soon created his signature trick 'the smoking penis'. Nacho's repotoire quickly developed - mostly in the showers after a match and long before water restrictions. Incredibly enough, one morning whilst driving to work, Nacho heard Puppetry of the Penis on the radio. They were on a recruitment drive for new puppeteers for their private shows, which included Hen's Parties. Nacho auditioned and soon became Melbourne's Number 1 Puppeteer on the Hens party circuit, a title he held for two years. The 'Big Stage' was the natural progression and Friendy and Horse have happily handed over their capes! SAM LYONS Born on Valentine's Day in Adelaide, 25 years ago and bred in the country town of Bendigo from age 12, Sam realised he had potential when he started playing senior footy as a 15yr old and quickly gained the nickname 'Rogue Elephant'. To the amusement of Sam's footy team mates, he began creating 'tricks', beginning with 'the wristwatch' and 'the fan'! Friends and family soon realised that whenever they needed someone to spark up a dull situation, Sam could whip up a few tricks and entertain the crowd - with only the slightest encouragement! Blessed with the prerequisite lack of shame, Sam was happy to nude up, regardless of whether he knew his audience or whether they liked it or not! This attitude remains with him to this day. After finishing his apprenticeship as a fitter and turner, Sam left behind central Victoria for a dash in Kalgoorlie and the WA goldfields. Earning infamy, a place in the local newspaper and a two year suspension from local football for flashing his penis to the opposition bench, Sam realised that desert life has a time limit and that long shifts and working underground in the dark just wasn't his style. Sam then ventured to Broome (taking his love of nudity at the famous Cable Beach nude beach) and soon decided the next thing on his 'to do' list was Queensland's Sunshine Coast (close to another nude beach at Noosa!), where he still calls home. After being taken to Puppetry of the Penis by his girlfriend, who then convinced him to audition for Private Parties, Sam quickly became a favourite amongst Sunshine Coast Hens' and it was only a matter of time before he too was called up for the 'Big Stage'!