Review Summary: A maniacally brilliant performer, observe the creature in its natural habitat - causing havoc behind the ivories.
Anyone who caught the documentary “Rock & Roll Nerd” earlier in the year would know that Tim Minchin’s road to success certainly has not come easy. He’s battled through adaptation to a new country, harsh critics of his ever-developing show and the struggle to keep his family (his wife and daughter) stable. Anyone who’s been fortunate enough to catch the man live, however, would be more than aware that the final destination was well worth the journey itself. An outstanding, clever performer, Minchin has evolved into an international star with a solid reputation for energetic, engaging and quite often ridiculous stage shows.
Of course, for those who haven’t been as lucky to catch the man in action, the magic of technology brings a sellout Sydney performance from early April of this year right to your television screens. Minchin’s latest show,
Ready For This?, is another highly original tour-de-force with bigger production than his previous outings, adding much more room for his theatrical ambitions. Why else, you think, would he begin proceedings by descending from some elaborately set up scaffolding amidst smoke machines, flashing lights and creating a thumping dance-pop musical background with nothing but layers of his own voice? It’s preposterous, and a little self indulgent – but you’ll be damned if you’re not loving every second.
It’s definitely not all smoke and mirrors in
Ready for This?, either. As a matter of fact, most of the evening is spent behind the piano for Minchin. His skill on the instrument remains a virtuosic, masterful sight to be seen. Several songs see Minchin move away from the main structure to throw in some blister-inducing jazzy solos, which receive rapturous applause every single time. This certainly isn’t jokes set to music – everything is put together with brilliant intent, with fantastic arrangements cushioning the razor-sharp humour. Throughout the set, he sings a plethora of songs that satirise, ridicule and joyfully slander. Everything from religion (“I Love Jesus”, “The Good Book”) to romance (“If I Didn’t Have You (Someone Else Would Do))” and prejudice (the aptly titled “Prejudice”) are served up with plenty of biting tongue-in-cheek comedy in Minchin’s mock-serious, slightly psychopathic character.
Older favourites like “Canvas Bags” and “Darkside” get a strong reception, but the perhaps the most substantial moments are found in the new material written for the show. Amongst these are ambitious numbers like the genre-hopping “Bears Don’t Dig on Dancing” and the nine-minute ranting beat poetry of “Storm”. The former is a funky, layered song written about “the plight of the dancing bear”, as Tim himself puts it. Complete with whistles, slap bass and killer falsetto backing vocals (all on backing track, mind), the song is also memorable for its cameo from break-dancer “Rush”, who is picked from the front row (supposedly at random) to put on a bear suit onstage and provoked to dance.
The latter sees Minchin standing alone at centre stage with a half-full wine glass in hand, telling the story of a chance meeting with an expatriate Sagittarian hippy, who attempts to bring down scientific theory and pharmaceutical companies – only to be ripped apart by Minchin’s feisty, breathless tirade. The fact he’s able to remember every word without assistance, as well as having the entire affair set to a smooth-jazz backing in a variety of time signatures makes this performance alone essential viewing.
Whether we’re talking music, comedy, musical comedy, theatre…whatever tickles your fancy, Tim Minchin has it covered, and he’s easily one of the most original and innovative individuals taking it all on.
Ready for This? is just another example of that – an encrusted diamond in an already expensive-looking crown.
