Review by Steve Bennett

With age comes maturity. He’s no angry young man railing furiously at the iniquities and hypocrisies of government. Instead, he can calmly and forensically examine exactly what the lying, cheating bastards in Canberra are up to.

His shows are almost like lectures, an impression strengthened by the fact he conducts them in front of a white board showing a map of the country, onto which he scribbles all manner of topical outrages he wants to discuss: labour law reforms, wheat-for-weapons scandal, immigration and so forth. It’s his only nod to presentation -well , that and a cuddly toy bear dressed as Captain Cook which, when pressed, says: ‘Refugees walk the plank.’ At least it’s toeing the government line.

Each subject is thoroughly examined with Quantock’s aridly dry wit. This is not a show about gags, but about telling people how the country is, the ridiculous facts of each story being bleakly funny in themselves when presented in the right way. You have to laugh at the state we’re in or else you cry.

His point of view is uniquely Australian (or possibly unAustralian, as his detractors would have it), but it’s also universal, even to a foreigner like me. Some of the particular references might be specific, but there’s no one in the corrupt West who wouldn’t understand his message.

Everyone at his show in the Swiss Club knows what to expect of a Quantock gig. The audience has matured with him, and presumably shares his views. His fans are certainly intelligent – ‘mutual obligations’ is one typical heckle when Quantock overlooks a reference – and want their left-leaning views confirmed, not challenged. They are suitably appreciative when it happens. In all honesty, there are funnier shows at the festival – though this is not without its hilarious moments. But there is none more important.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
May 2006

Review date: 1 Jan 2006
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett