QPAC Playhouse - Sun Jun 29

Named after the feeding tube that directs nutrients to an unborn baby, so do Sydney’s The Umbilical Brothers provide Brisbane’s avid fans of mime magnificence with an enthralling dose of non-stop hilarity. While relatively quiet for the last year and a half or so, Dave Collins and Shane Dundas have proved that anything is possible with a microphone and a stage. Impressing the vastly age varied audience with simple slapstick gags layered with complex sound effects, they ease the crowd into a night of failsafe formulaic shenanigans. For those who witnessed 2004’s Speedmouse, this reviewer can’t help but feel as though the brothers are willing participants in a good old fashioned rehash for cash expedition. The onstage banter blurs any expected scheduled direction, but with great aplomb. I feel the only real constant throughout is the no-doubt scripted and routine rivalry that prevails between both performers, many highlights extracted therein. Heckling is encouraged and many memorable moments are born as a result of the quick-witted brothers responses when vocal crowd members express their opinions. The Umbilical Brothers have been performing their satirical shtick for nearly 20 years now and it’s clear that as long as Australians still like to indulge in watching two grown men run around a stage creating limitless sounds and situations, then you may be seeing them in 20 more.

CAEL FENBY

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