The Chaser’s Age of Terror Variety Hour
Athenaeum Theatre
As a huge fan of The Chaser’s War on Everything, I was a bit reluctant to see the group live in the Age of Terror Variety Hour. Would their cheeky, smartarse antics translate well onto the stage? Would they still surprise me with material they had been using for weeks? Would it just be stand up comedy without frustrated politicians to ambush?
I have to admit, it did take me a while to warm up to the satirical quintet when I saw them at the Athenaeum Theatre, but that may have been from the fact I was sitting in a section tastefully called the ‘Upper Circle’ which I’d like to rename ‘the Attic’. It gave me a great view of the stage, albeit a birds-eye one.
After an introductory song and dance routine that seemed a little too rehearsed and a little too tired, the boys started to really fire up. One of the highlights was a segue competition, Anna Coren style. Chas Licciardello and Andrew Hansen proved just how clever and quick witted they were when, after asking for topics from the audience, they managed to link rising petrol prices to Pauline Hanson, and child porn offenders to gangland ex-wife Roberta Williams, in true Today Tonight fashion.
There was the expected Al Qaeda skit, which proved to be quite funny regardless of how many times you’ve seen Chas dressed up as Osama bin Laden. Craig Reucassel performed a toe-tapping country tune about incest, which stopped just short of crossing the line but still had audiences groaning in delighted disgust. Julian Morrow sang about his girlfriend Lara, the automated Vodafone voice operator – only a Chaser could make the seemingly innocent “hold one second while I put you through” sound so dirty. The pre-recorded message gained a round of belly laughs from the crowded theatre.
The performance was a mash up of singing, dancing and sketches as well as a few ‘here’s some we’ve prepared earlier’ segments. The large powerpoint screen that was a constant backdrop to the performance enhanced the show rather than distracted from it – Julian even devoted a section to singing the praises of the humble slide show application.
The sixty minute show was over all too quickly when the audience realised that standing patriotically for the national anthem had turned into a standing ovation as the boys farewelled us as the worst audience they had ever seen.
It was clever, quick-witted, politically incorrect and totally lapped up by fans who were left to wonder when they’ll be able to see their favourite satirical crew again.
