Old-timey radio shows are my jam. So when I saw Radio Variety Hour was playing, I knew it was one of my must-see shows at the Comedy Festival. What’s more fun than watching a radio play come to life, complete with sound effects and a few actors putting on accents to play dozens of characters? It doesn’t get much better than this.
The trio of Lauren Bok (of ‘Is That a Burrito in Your Pocket‘ fame), Sam Marzen, and Bert Goldsmith take the audience on a riotous 50 minutes of pure 1950s comedy gold. Just like a real radio hour, the show is made up of segments featuring everything from whodunit mysteries to faux advertisements.
The three actors gather in front of microphones, scripts in hand, around a table filled with props. Thanks to my time seeing ‘The Intergalactic Nemesis‘, I know that those who create sound effects using random obejcts are called ‘foley artists’. Now you do, too! The cast constantly revolve between quick-fire speaking and making wait-till-you-see-it noises. A hot water bottle turns into the sound of a car. There’s a tiny doorway used for door slamming. And I won’t even begin to tell you what they do with the cabbage…
The entire hour is so quick-fire that you’re continuously entertained. In the opening sketch, the cast sticks to what radio plays are known for: hard-boiled detectives and plot twists. In the first sketch we were treated to Joan Jackson, ‘female private detective’, who, along with her assistant Lana Lovesit, is hired to visit a movie set and convince a hot Hollywood actor to continue performing. Along the way, a murder occurs (look out for that cabbage!), the ladies are chased through a variety of film sets, and everything is tied up in a neat bow after about 10 minutes. Just the way a radio play should be.
I should mention that all of the accents are done to perfection. Sometimes playing two or three characters in quick succession, the voicework by the three actors is impeccable — as are their American accents. I should know — my plus one and I are both Yanks. We both vastly enjoyed being able to help make the sound effects. The cast holds up cards for everything from ‘applause’ to ‘clicking’ to ‘gasp’. The audience really got into it.
This is one incredibly fun hour. From singalong ads for cigarettes, to a sketch involving a Dickensian ‘A Christmas Carol’ plot and beat poetry, there’s never a dull moment. You’ll laugh, you’ll click along when told, and you’ll with ‘Radio Variety Hour’ lasted longer.
– Theresa
Theresa has been practising her best Katharine Hepburn voice in the hopes of someday being cast in a radio show.
‘Radio Variety Hour‘ runs 5-17 April at The Butterfly Club. The venue is not accessible.
Check out our guide to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for more great shows.
