Canberra Reviews

When you think of getting old, do you look forward to sipping pinot noir onboard your retirement yacht, or are you already stockpiling incontinence pads and tweed jackets with leather elbow patches? Even if you’re barely out of nappies, your attitude to life in general determines how much you enjoy Judith Lucy’s stand-up act Judith Lucy’s Not Getting Any Younger.

Judith Lucy is a name and face many Australians would recognise, but can’t quite put their finger on. ‘Oh yeah, she’s the chick on Rove, and she was in Crackerjack.’ Indeed Lucy’s comedy career has spanned over 20 years on radio, TV, film and one-woman stand-up routines. 

Over 80 minutes, 40-year-old Lucy takes us into the world of middle age, reflecting on life in her 20s and projecting into the future. As she says, "Clichés are clichés because they’re true" - but for some, this statement is fatalistic.

One cliché, however, is true in Lucy’s case: Comedy is Tragedy plus time, with which Lucy has made her niche. Endless negativity, skepticism, and an ectoplasm of sarcasm ooze from her.  There were some very funny jokes, but an optimist would wilt like a tulip in a hot car, whereas a pessimist would grow weeds in wonder at the endless stream of insights into getting old.

Is attitude dependant on age? The Canberra Theatre was almost full, divided not so much into Generation X, Boomer and Gen Y, but those who see getting older as something to be ignored or feared, and those who are happy with the onset of permanent laugh lines. Lucy visited topics of all generations and perspectives, though a swing to another person’s range was like a spotlight shifting to them and leaving the rest of us in the dark.

What really matters when analysing stand-up comedy is the fundamental query ‘is it funny?’ Yes, people laughed. Was it original? Yes, she has her own niche of ‘hey my life sucks, laugh at it’. Is it funny and original all of the time? From my point of view, not so much. There were times when a train of thought disappeared into a tunnel of Lucy’s own mind instead of stopping at the audience station. There was also confusion at occasional popup jokes as if the Queen were talking about the Middle East ‘bother’ and then all of a sudden mentioned that her corgi sleeps with a teddy bear, before going back to whether a single-state solution is feasible.

What IS funny is the truth about getting older - whether we deny it or embrace it. The best jokes were the ‘that is so true’ type, which is tricky when the audience varies from 20-year-olds to pensioner age. Perhaps that is why some of the jokes flew over my head, as I barely remember those things called ‘cassettes.’

The finale was a bit of an anti-climax with a song and dance routine just as expert as John Howard’s backyard cricket skills (albeit with a humble warning before the music started). The song was incongruous to the rest of the performance, although one could argue a case for the choice of song relating to the tragi-comedy of ageing.

Judith Lucy is lemon juice comedy - bitter and a little bit tart. Optimists would be worn down - but pessimists, invigorated. The question of enjoyment comes down to how much bitterness you can take.


Judith Lucy’s Not Getting Any Younger

NATIONAL TOUR

SYDNEY
Venue: Sydney Opera House, Playhouse
Dates: 3 - 28 February (no show Mondays)
Times: Tues-Wed 7.00pm, Thurs-Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm
Bookings: 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com or Ticketek 132 849

NEWCASTLE
Venue: City Hall (Concert Hall) | 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Dates: Thursday 5th March
Times: 7.00pm
Tickets: Full $38.00, Concession $34.00
Bookings: Ticketek 02 4929 1977 or www.ticketek.com.au

CANBERRA
Venue: The Canberra Theatre | Civic Square, London Court
Dates: Friday 6th March
Times: 7.00pm
Tickets: Full Price: $39.50 Concession: $34.00
Bookings: Canberra Ticketing 02 6275 2700 or www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au

WOLLONGONG
Venue: Illawarra Performing Arts Centre | 32 Burelli St, Wollongong
Dates: Saturday 7th March
Times: 7.00pm
Tickets: Full Price: $38.00 Concession: $34.00
Bookings: merrigong.com.au or 02 4226 3366

ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL
Venue: The Arts Theatre | 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
Dates: 10-21 March
Time: 7.00pm
Bookings: www.adelaidefringe.com.au or 1300 FRINGE (374 643)

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
Venue: Forum Theatre (upstairs) | cnr Flinders & Russell Sts
Dates: Thursday 2 April – Sunday 26 April (No shows Mondays)
Time: 7.30pm Tuesday – Saturday, 6.30pm Sunday
Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au , Ticketek 132 849 or at the door

PERTH
Venue: Octagon Theatre | 601 – 700 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands
Dates: Tues 5 – Sun 10 May
Times: 7pm
Tickets: Full: $38.00, Concession: $34.00
Bookings: www.bocsticketing.com.au , (08) 94841133.

BRISBANE
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse, Powerhouse Theatre | 119 Lamington Street, New Farm
Dates: From 2nd June
Times: TBC
Tickets: Full: $38.00, Concession: $34.00
Bookings: www.brisbanepowerhouse.org , (07) 3358 8600