The Umbilical Brothers – KiDShow (Not Suitable For Children)
Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse – to 13 April 2014
Underwhelming Umbilicals Under-Perform and Under-Deliver
Stars: 3
By: Joe Calleri
Despite a few highlights, The Umbilical Brothers’ latest production, KiDShow (Not Suitable For Children) lacks their usual snap, crackle and pop, leaving it an awkward and curiously tentative effort.
The internationally renowned, and usually dynamic duo of curly-haired David Collins and bald Shane Dundas – those blokes you see flogging cough lollies on telly – are noted for their unique brand of high-impact mime, physical humour, and remarkable vocal dexterity.
The performance has the basic ingredients of a children's show: cute, smiling, overly-friendly presenters, silly songs and dances, and a parade of well-known and imaginary characters.
It’s ironic the duo choose to disguise this piece as a children’s show, considering they recently starred in a genuine but now defunct children’s television program, The Upside Down Show.
Once the Brothers discover the audience is made up of adults, the gloves come off, the tone and subject matter become decidedly darker, and the language decidedly bluer.
The audience then witnesses tantalising glimpses of the theatrical magic of which these Brothers are undoubtedly capable.
Such flashes of brilliance include an anarchic, violent and destruction-fuelled parody of The Brady Bunch, and Collins' impressive rendition of Nina Simone’s classic Feeling Good, with Dundas providing hilarious, background sound effects.
Some of the problems with this show may stem from the last-minute replacement of the Brothers' sound and lighting operator, however this does not excuse the problematic structure and its intermittently lacklustre performances.
These veteran Aussie performers possess unique theatrical skills so it’s a shame that the Brothers have, to coin a TV chef critique, plated up a flawed dish.
END
Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse – to 13 April 2014
Underwhelming Umbilicals Under-Perform and Under-Deliver
Stars: 3
By: Joe Calleri
 |
| DAVID COLLINS (L), SHANE DUNDAS (R) - IMAGE SUPPLIED. |
Despite a few highlights, The Umbilical Brothers’ latest production, KiDShow (Not Suitable For Children) lacks their usual snap, crackle and pop, leaving it an awkward and curiously tentative effort.
The internationally renowned, and usually dynamic duo of curly-haired David Collins and bald Shane Dundas – those blokes you see flogging cough lollies on telly – are noted for their unique brand of high-impact mime, physical humour, and remarkable vocal dexterity.
The performance has the basic ingredients of a children's show: cute, smiling, overly-friendly presenters, silly songs and dances, and a parade of well-known and imaginary characters.
It’s ironic the duo choose to disguise this piece as a children’s show, considering they recently starred in a genuine but now defunct children’s television program, The Upside Down Show.
Once the Brothers discover the audience is made up of adults, the gloves come off, the tone and subject matter become decidedly darker, and the language decidedly bluer.
The audience then witnesses tantalising glimpses of the theatrical magic of which these Brothers are undoubtedly capable.
Such flashes of brilliance include an anarchic, violent and destruction-fuelled parody of The Brady Bunch, and Collins' impressive rendition of Nina Simone’s classic Feeling Good, with Dundas providing hilarious, background sound effects.
Some of the problems with this show may stem from the last-minute replacement of the Brothers' sound and lighting operator, however this does not excuse the problematic structure and its intermittently lacklustre performances.
These veteran Aussie performers possess unique theatrical skills so it’s a shame that the Brothers have, to coin a TV chef critique, plated up a flawed dish.
END
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