Andrew Hansen’s ‘Solo Show’ at the Powerhouse drew a reasonable crowd but it was obvious by the empty seats scattered across the stalls that a lot of people were already self-isolating.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the former 'Chaser' star who made the most of the situation, telling the audience that the really smart people had stayed at home – but hey, those of us dumb enough to turn up and spend an hour in a confined space could still have a good time. And we did.
For fans of 'The Chaser', Andrew needs no introduction. He was, and is the master of musical satire and while he spoke about the loneliness of ‘running solo’ – a reference to his departure from the 'Chaser' team – he seemed at ease on stage as he worked his way through a catalogue of old and new material.
The show could easily have been titled, ‘No One Gets Out Of Here Unscathed’ as Andrew took aim at everyone and everything including the Prime Minister, Pauline Hanson, Kerry Packer, cancel culture, the rich and famous and of course the audience.
In keeping with his acerbic brand of musical mayhem, the show starts with a send-up of popular music before moving on to The Wiggles and his desperate attempt to join the globally-acclaimed group. As nothing is off-limits it wasn’t altogether surprising that he took a jab at the recent and well-documented health concerns of Wiggles’ band members.
In this 60-minute tour de force, Andrew does what Andrew does best – lampooning politics, the media, popular culture, political correctness and the hapless audience to score satirical points. And he does it with such accomplished musicality that even the most ferocious and withering attacks are somehow softened to the point where it all seems quite acceptable.
It was clear most of the audience were 'Chaser' fans so they knew what to expect and they weren’t disappointed. There was an audible gasp of anticipation when he announced he would farewell the stage after one more song – ‘a song I’m sure you’ll know’. Of course it was his renowned ‘Eulogy Song’ which hones in on the posthumous uplifting of public figures who were disliked while alive but heralded as saintly after death. His updated version is just as brutal as the original from a decade ago and you could see some people wincing at its sheer ferocity.
It was a brilliant conclusion to a night of audacious comedy, blistering satire and inventive musical accompaniment and proof that Andrew Hansen was more than just ‘a member’ of 'The Chaser'. He was likely the driving comic force. And that’s what we came to see.
★★★★★
