The Needle and the Damage Done is a personal invitation to hear Fiona Scott-Norman’s view of the top ten of the worst records ever released in the history of the world. After seeing the show, it’s clear she has certainly done her research and is pretty damn accurate.
A clever feature of the show is how she divides it into categories – ‘Australia’s worst records’, ‘worst Christian records’, ‘records your parents had sex to’, ‘I’m not racist, but...’, ‘I’m not sexist, but’...’, ‘men with stuff’ and ‘exploitation of children’ and the winner is...
‘The Shaggs’ were an all-sister band, who taught themselves how to play and sing and, to paraphrase Fiona: “...were protected by their father from outside influences like rhythm and tempo”.
There are other stand-out releases from football players, John Laws, Bernard King, white supremacists, misguided celebrities, Abigail, The ‘Hoff’, and Leonard Nimoy. The highlight of the night for me was Fiona eating a long cream pastry, while she played us “Come in my Mouth”, a track from the ‘sexual musical’, Let My People Come.
It was like spending a delightful, nostalgic-to-some-extent evening in Fiona’s living room with her records, record player and a thermos of tea. Directed by Comedy Inc’s Paul McCarthy, The Needle and the Damage Done is unpretentious and genuinely funny. Don’t miss it.
Fiona Scott-Norman
The Needle And The Damage Done
Venue: Chapel Off Chapel | 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran (Melways: Map 2L Ref J10)
Dates: 17 – 21 December
Times: Wed and Thurs 8pm; Fri and Sat 7:30pm and 9:30pm; Sun 6pm
Tickets: $25 Full, $20 Concession and Groups 10+ (+ transaction fee)
Bookings: 03 8290 7000 or www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
