Capital Punishment

Note: This review is from 2010

Review by Steve Bennett

There are only really two stars of this line-up of newish Canberra-based acts – and they share the same DNA.

Identical Twins Benjamin and James, aka the Stevenson Experience, weren’t that ambitious with their song parodies; but an engaging spirit permeated their act, especially when they shared good-natured badinage, playing up their sibling rivalry and physical similarities. They were surely the only choice to headline.

The show had been opened by another musical double-act Herbie and the Coleslaws, who tediously strung a load of below-the-belt references together and set them to music with songs such as Up Your Fanny. A humourless attack on redheads – making them one of several acts mining that same seam of ginger clichés this festival – only added to the idea that this was an unimaginative act bereft of decent ideas.

Talking of the familiar, Daniel Connell had some dull material about pick-up lines and some better one-liners of his own, while his description of a six-year-old soccer player was endearing. All too mild to really engage, but he seems like a nice chap.

Talking of lightweight, Emo Parsonson had a few insubstantial routines about country life, while his gag about checking in excess baggage of the emotional kind was laboured. Forgettable.

Dayne Rathbone’s piece de resistance was handing around cock-and-balls line drawings, so set your expectations accordingly. His teasing of a clearly embarrassed audience member who he dragged up on stage was uncomfortable to watch; while his own mock-shyness didn’t do anything to raise the energy of this late night showcase.

So not a great package show from the ACT. As I said at the start: two stars.

Review date: 13 Apr 2010
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

Live comedy picks

We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.