By the time I stumbled into puberty, my friends and I were all starting to own mobile phones and school laptops, and YouTube had become ubiquitous. It was access to a whole world beyond where we were. Mainly the US. And, as a tragic theatre kid, it was access to New York, to Broadway! It was also access to a whole swathe of brilliant performances from before the internet; see below, Elaine Stritch, Catherine Tate, Debra Monk. Growing up with these funny people is a huge reason I’m doing what I’m doing with my life (being a singing, dancing loony).
It is fascinating and joyous to look back as, this year, I get to live out a dream emulating the humour of the videos I was obsessed with: I am about to play 12 camp, predominately female characters in the musical comedy Murder for Two in Melbourne. In the show I get to bring every comic bone in my body, a skeleton that was made from the videos I grew up obsessing over.
This list is my tasting platter of just some of the videos that helped shape my sense of humour. It’s second nature that we have the internet – but really how lucky we are that, from Shakespeare to SNL, we get to revel in it all!
1. My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies – Everybody’s Girl – Debra Monk (Official)
I’m starting my list with a show tune, get over it!
A gem of musical theatre comedy, from a relatively little-known Broadway broad Debra Monk, from a relatively little-known Kander and Ebb musical, Steel Pier. My favourite lyric: “You won’t be disappointed / I’m also double jointed.”
2. Catherine Tate Meets The Queen!
One of my favourite sketches ever. Catherine Tate as the iconic “am I bovvered?” Lauren Cooper. Fun fact: this was the first time in history the program actually cut to the royal box. IMO this gets to the heart of British humour – when it can cut the shiz and make fun of itself.
3. Jiminy Glick Interviews Bill Hader
My most recent obsession is Martin Short as Jiminy Glick. Evidence that nothing is too ridiculous if you commit strong enough. Grotesque and subtle, heaven.
4. Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe)
As an actor, nothing turns me on more than a brilliant line reading. The best being completely unexpected yet completely true. This is one of my favourite line reads of all time from the phenomenal Mark Rylance. The line is “how now, Malvolio?” And yes, I have Shakespeare on my list …
5. Julia Louis-Dreyfus acceptance speech | 2018 Mark Twain prize
Most people in my life know I am obsessed with JLD. Veep is my favourite television show of all time. She’s just so enigmatic. I think Julia Louis-Dreyfus could read a phone book and still ooze humour and charm. She is maybe the strongest example of someone that has that comic je ne sais quoi.
6. Lano & Woodley – Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow 2018
A more recent Lano and Woodley skit, where Woodley pretends to be a fly. Enough said.
7. Sean Hayes’ outstanding physical comedy for 12 minutes | Will & Grace
Perhaps the single greatest comedy hero of mine is Sean Hayes. I have been likened to Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland many-a-time and it is the biggest compliment I can receive.
8. Exit Polling – Saturday Night Live
A one-off SNL skit from the best of the best, Kristen Wiig. It’s just so simple and stupid.
9. Gabbi Bolt: Valentine’s Day Song | The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
My penultimate choice is really just a chance to show off how amazingly talented my co-star is. This is Gabbi on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, being funny, musical brilliant and anti-capitalist while SERVING lewks on the ABC.
10. I’m Still Here – Elaine Stritch
I don’t care if I was asked to list my top 10 yoghurts, I can’t curate a list of anything without some Sondheim. It seems fitting to start and end with 20th century Broadway show tunes. Favourite lyric: “In the depression, was I depressed? Nowhere near / I met a big financier … so I’m here.”
Maverick Newman and Gabbi Bolt star in Murder for Two, at Arts Centre Melbourne 15–25 August
