Taking a trip down memory lane, ‘Yada Yada Yada: A '90s Sitcom Special’ effectively turned back time to a much loved decade.
Dropping tunes from our favourite hit programs – like ‘90210’, ‘The Babysitters Club’, ‘Friends’ and ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (just to name a few) – comedy duo Lauren Edwards and Jude Perl celebrated an iconic era of television history.
It’s crazy to think it’s been more than 20 years since the 90s were first upon us – where influential characters like Ross and Rachel, Elaine and Jerry and even Brenda and Dylan graced our TV screens.
Those were the days of VHS tapes, Cosmopolitan quizzes and writing letters to our heartthrobs in hopes they’ll respond. Many things may have changed, but the memories still remain.
Assisting us with this nostalgic nod, Lauren and Jude cleverly impersonated Fran and Yetta from the hit series ‘The Nanny’. With Yetta dressed in a florescent track suit and Miss Fine’s symbolic style and leopard print flair, the duo sassed their way through a 50-minute performance.
‘Yada, Yada, Yada’ takes its name from a ‘Seinfeld’ episode, where character George Costanza worries about his girlfriend using the phrase to hide things. Unlike that particular instance, Lauren and Jude left nothing off the table and happily glided through the age, reliving every possible '90s element.
Comparing life from then to now, the act followed the premise of the two stars filming a '90s television special – using the audience as viewers at home. During commercial breaks, the duo would break from character to bring all topics back to reality.
While humour missed the mark in some components, as it was very particular to the decade and guided by canned laughter, the show was packed with enough flashbacks that it sent you into a spiral of childhood memories.
Lauren and Jude are incredible actresses and brilliant musicians. With tangents of self-promotion and real honesty, their impromptu abilities allowed them to transition between scenes effortlessly. Not to mention, they have excellent chemistry and comic timing. The camaraderie between them was evident.
The girls had a hard task ahead of them when impersonating two iconic superstars, but they handled their roles well. They showed skill and dedication in their ability to switch quickly between real life and fantasy characters. ‘Yada, Yada, Yada’ was a polished and well-rehearsed presentation.
Although the show was filled with great performances, it did feel misplaced within the context of the Brisbane Comedy Festival. Yes, there were some laughs, but the show was a cabaret, styled with original scores and beautiful ballads.
Despite this, the audience still delighted in experiencing two very talented performers. The '90s would be proud.
