A cold blustery night made for the perfect atmosphere to go and be a part of the Spray’s (formerly known as the Infamous Spraygeltent) Winning Hides Everything. Held at Princes Park in the Carlton locker room this is an exposé of what it’s like to be a part of an AFL football team. The audience is walked around the ground by Assistant Coach “Jayco” Jim Lawson and laid into regularly by the head coach of ‘KAAARLTON’ (and ex-AFL player) Glen Manton. What follows is a show that vividly creates an atmosphere of the inner workings of an AFL club showing us what takes place behind closed doors. Princes Park and its surroundings, the club rooms and ground, add another layer of authenticity to the performance. Every audience member is made a part of the team by being given a number and a nickname by which they can be identified, for example I was Macca and my best mate was Dim Sim. This allows Manton and Lawson to address the audience personally and bring them into the world they’re creating.
Although most of the Spray feels as though it’s unscripted, or largely improvised, the two performers work effortlessly to create this impression. Much of the material is in fact well-rehearsed and well-conceived and the two performers use the audience participation to manipulate where they’re going next. It has to be said that audience participation is undertaken in such a way that it doesn’t alienate their audience, but instead brings that audience further into the story. Also the low-fi approach to lighting, which normally would make you groan, in this case actually adds to the atmosphere.
If you love AFL then this is the show for you, and even if you don’t, there’s something really interesting and intelligent about watching these two men throws themselves around. At the end of the night you’ll feel as though you really have played on the ground for four quarters, and it’s to the credit of Manton and Lawson that you spend most that time having a laugh.
Winning hides everything
THE SPRAY
Venue: Carlton Football Club, Change room: Royal Parade, Carton. Mel: 29 12G
Dates: 9 Shows – March 27th-29th / April 3-5th and 11-13th
Tickets: Adult: $30.00/ Concession/Preview: $25.00/Group (8+) $25.00
Times: 8.00pm
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 66 00 13 or www.comedyfestival.com.au