Sammy J and Randy in The Inheritance
Live Review
Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Where would comedy be without the hokey haunted house plotline? And in The Inheritance, Sammy J and Randy have used all the clichés: the will from the long-lost relative, the creepy caretaker, the sinister secret passages, the Princess Diana 15th Anniversary Commemorative Oven Glove…

So no surprise that the skinny musical comic and his felt-faced purple sidekick have put their own stupid subversion on the genre, producing a tight-paced, nutty romp through a ghost-infected manor of Olde England.

Always timid-looking, Sammy gets to play the terrified hauntee, not a million miles from Scooby-Doo’s Shaggy, who finds himself subserviently working for the wisecracking Randy, as he swaps their friendship for a debauched drug and hooker-filled celebrity lifestyle, funded by his unearned new wealth.

So much for storyline, this is a raucous show that is defined by its mischievous high spirits (no ghostly pun intended), crude double entendre and snappy backchat. And, of course, the songs. The brilliant songs

Even a task as mundane as filling in a government census form, which bookends the action, is turned into a briskly witty number, delivered at frenzied pace as the housemates compare notes about their relationship, sexual preference and ethnicity, while the ‘sick’ rap extolling the virtues of an in-car subwoofer is another oddball delight.

The novelty of hearing a cute muppet swear ferociously never quite wears off, but puppeteer Heath McIvor is really on top of his game here, injecting funny ad libs to an already whip-sharp script while brilliantly animating everything from delicate shadow puppets to full-size trolls. Self-aware gags deconstructing the pretence of what the pair are doing so slickly are frequent – perhaps a bit too frequent – but always funny.

The pair have a easy chemistry and a stand-up’s instincts for working in the moment rather than sticking doggedly to a script, all of which adds to the relaxed, enjoyable vibe. Any lest there be any question of their shtick getting too complacent, they playfully toy with taboos such as death and racism to pique the interest. In fact, it’s sometimes annoying when the plot rears its head again to interrupt all the random silliness.

Although far from a child-friendly show, The Inheritance shares one characteristic with the best kids’ movies of having wide comic appeal, but with just enough subversion and intelligent lines, delivered as casual throwaway asides, to keep it interesting. The Inheritance is a fine addition to Sammy J and Randy’s legacy.