Most audience members seem familiar with Randy from his double act with Sammy J. There is genuine sympathy for him as he recounts the painful festival experience of rocking up to the bar as a teetotaller, being urged to have ‘just one’ and feeling that he was being left out of the joys of self-obliteration. From his energetic dance moves to his rants about religion, vegetarianism and social media, Randy leavens the polemic with enough light chaffing about local peculiarities, internet porn and impersonations of characters in his anecdotes to keep the laughter flowing for the full hour. Heckling is encouraged, and hecklers are dealt with in a satisfying manner. Some particular irritants find themselves put on the spot again at unexpected moments through the show.
Randy has been touring this show for some time, and it comes through in the impression of a vast depth of material being drawn upon to ensure continuing freshness and immediacy. He is confident and gracious enough to allow audience members to sideline his punchlines with their own, joining in the enjoyment of someone else’s witticisms (about life in Adelaide) and moving on to the next thing. And there is no end of ‘next things’. Each morsel is cleverly concocted and delivered with better timing than would be expected from a puppet who is not actually making eye contact with people (but those bulging, lidless balls never stop sweeping the crowd, creating a far more immediate, intimate connection than should be possible).
Technical crew assists with punchline delivery with strategic musical stings, lighting effects and precise raising of lights to create abrupt changes of mood. Randy’s vocal and physical control would keep the attention, regardless, but there is only so much pathos that can be milked from a sock puppet and the attention to technical detail brings another dimension to the entertainment.
Perth welcomes Randy, in his full glorious sobriety, rocking The West Australian Spiegeltent as part of 2014’s Fringe World Festival.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Randy is Sober
The West Australian Spiegeltent, Festival Gardens, Northbridge
Fringe World
www.fringeworld.com.au
24-27 January
