| Ding Dong Downe | Bob Downe & Denise Drysdale |
| Written by Stephanie Glickman |
| Monday, 10 December 2007 18:35 |
 Ding Dong Downe is one of those innocuous Christmas shows that come around this time of year, capitalizing on the holiday season, but not offering anything new.I have always had a soft spot for Bob Downe (aka Mark Trevorrow) and his kitschy gay schtick – his daggy dancing, safari suits (in this case, a denim patchwork number) and his incredible agility with eyeball acrobatics. In the past I have found his blend of musical, spoken and physical comedy quite funny. Having not seen him for some time, I was curious what he had in store in this two-hander with TV legend Denise Drysdale. The 100 minute show passed quickly enough, and the enthusiastic audience was into it before the duo even hit the stage, but the material was, to say the least, a bit tired and there was potential for far greater from the talented performers and their supportive band (led by musical director John Thorn). Starting with some corny dancing, a lot of filler banter, Christmas chatter and a musical duet, the pair opened the show together. There was plenty of back-patting and talking each other up, with Downe’s rubber-man physicality in tandem with Drysdale’s upbeat, giggly persona. The show then moved into individual segments – the first from Drysdale. Drysdale, as we learn, is 59 (and three days – it was her birthday on Wednesday) and she is still out there, ever the show woman. She has lasted decades in an industry where it is nearly impossible for a female to find longevity and I do respect her for that. Most of the audience loved her and the man who got to sit on her lap and snuggle into her (newly-reduced) breasts said it was his dream come true. For me, though, her musical numbers were entertaining enough, but the humour was just bland. She told us too much information about the aforementioned breast reduction, did imitations of horses, chooks and even bacon being fried (this involved her lying supine and shaking furiously), donned oversized nanna underwear and huge F-size bra to sing in a range of impressions from Marilyn Monroe to John Wayne. It was hardly cutting-edge stuff. Downe’s segment mixed jokes about politicians, Melbourne, fashion and his family with some great songs. I loved his Land Down Under (which he playfully attributed to Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil) and would have liked more music and less talk. His banter was well-timed and there was some good material, but I swear I have heard all those jokes before…and I haven’t seen the guy in at least five years! At segment’s end, Drysdale came out as an unwilling harem girl (with pasties on her breasts – thankfully, she was wearing a modest black top underneath) to join him for a rendition of Elvis Presley’s Little Egypt. Two willing audience members helped her achieve Little Egypt's required triple somersault before she hobbled back off stage. She returned for some final dueting – the classic AC/DC ballad It’s A Long Way To the Top to finish the show and Downe introduced us to the band members. It turns out the young drummer (Downe told him “Any younger and you’d be eight cells) could really sing and I started thinking I would have enjoyed a solo show from him considerably more than the recycled material I had just sat through. Ding Dong Downe reminded me of that single Christmas fruitcake that keeps traveling from giver to receiver in an ongoing chain of second-hand gift-giving. Watching the show was like getting that fruitcake…again. Luckily, most of the audience seemed to enjoy fruitcake. Unless, unlike me, they were well-skilled in faking joy over a less-than-thrilling Christmas gift. Bob Downe & Denise Drysdale in Ding Dong Downe Venue: Athenaeum Theatre Dates/Times: Fri 7th & Sat 8th December Bookings: Athenaeum Booking Office (03) 9650 1500
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Comments (4)Subscribe to this comment's feed...
I went on Friday 7/12 and quite enjoyed it. You get what you pay for, and for the $28.00 or so discounted ticket price, I thought it was great value.
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December 10, 2007
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Exactly how "cutting edge" did you expect Denise Drysdale and Bob Downe to be, Stephanie?
I was fortunate to be in the front row for "Ding Dong Downe" when they performed in Gosford, NSW recently - and it was one of the most fun and entertaining nights I've had in ages. Sure the jokes are a little stale, but that's a joke in itself! It's classic, inoffensive humour (unlike most "modern" comedy) - which there simply isn't enough of these days. Congratulations to Bob and Denise for putting on a fun, entertaining and memorable show.
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December 10, 2007
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I saw the show in Sydney on Thurs. 20 Dec. and really enjoyed it - as I usually do with a Bob Downe show. Have never seen Denise before I think (maybe accidentally on TV) but she is obviously a trouper. I did not think the Downe material was that recycled (you do have some idea what you will be getting - the main reason I went) - but it is always difficult to say whether he is really sharp and doing improv. or is it scripted? The on stage band was a pleasant surprise for the musical numbers. However little Angus made this show - a family of young boys in the front row, 7, 10 and 12 - and Angus as the youngest got asked what he wanted for Xmas - well the somewhat off the wall scatological response of "a piece of s**t" (well, he was 7)brought the house down. You know what they say about working with animals and young children Bob!This was not a show to be intellectually analysed - although I did appeciate Stephanie's comments - but its not Chekhov OK? Maybe not Bob's best - I could do without the Denise stuff mostly, but it was good uncomplicated stuff (and I am sure Angus' parents did have some explaining to do in the car on the way home about bingo tickets etc!)
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December 22, 2007
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I saw the show in Sydney on 18th December as a visitor from overseas. I love Bob Downe but didn't find Denise funny at all - in fact I clapped all the way through Bobs' stints on stage but Denise didn't even raise a smile from me. A bit of a shame but I enjoyed it on the whole.
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December 30, 2007
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