Post by Youngdays on Apr 5, 2010 12:37:12 GMT 10
blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/archives/2010/04/lano_versus_woo.html
I shall post what it says here, prepare to get ANGRY! There are some very angry comments on the article:
Is it unfair of me to directly compare the solo work of two men who, as a duo, were among Australia's biggest comedy stars? Possibly, but I'm going to do it anyway ...
When Lano and Woodley worked together, Frank Woodley was always the more likable one. In fact, I believe in their farewell tour they asked audiences to pick who they preferred, and it was always Woodley.
But that wasn't surprising - Colin Lane was always Skipper to Woodley's Gilligan. Not exactly a straight man, but Lane was bossy, bullying and occasionally sadistic. You weren't really supposed to like him.
Now working a solo performers, it's interesting to compare how they have developed. Woodley's Bewilderbeest, which consists of a mix of songs, sketches and stand-up, is very much an extension of his earlier persona.
The physical comedy is there, the faux embarassment and awkwardness, the uncontrollable hands. But there's more than that. Woodley has grown as a performer since going solo and the audience is sticking with him - as evidenced by his venue: the main room at the Forum Theatre.
Woodley's show lets him demonstrate his diverse skills - he goes from a Chaplin-esque exercise in physical comedy when performing as drunken golfer to a Tom Waits-like bluesman that manages to be lyrically funny while also delivering sight gags. It's really a top-notch show that's fairly safe for both young and old audiences. (Read Kylie Northover's review here)
Colin Lane's Not Sure About the Music suffers by comparison. While Lane's show is styled as a cabaret (which is often used by some shows to explain why they're not funny), audiences heading to see it should reasonably expect some decent laughs.
Lane performs covers of the likes of Missy Higgins, You Am I and even the Veronicas, warning the audience that the will feature songs that don't have jokes in them. The problem is, the lengthy sections in between songs are also missing decent jokes. Instead, we get fairly rambling material about Lane's relationship to modern music.
The big problem is really that, while Woodley has embraced his previous persona and taken it to new heights, Lane seems to be trying to shed his. The problem with this for the audience is that we expect him to have that nasty edge he had during his time in the duo and it is sorely missing here. It's not until the last 10 minutes when Lane begins to let his darker side resurface that the show really gets going - and then it's over.
So, as you have probably guessed, in the battle between the former partners, Woodley comes out on top.
I shall post what it says here, prepare to get ANGRY! There are some very angry comments on the article:
Is it unfair of me to directly compare the solo work of two men who, as a duo, were among Australia's biggest comedy stars? Possibly, but I'm going to do it anyway ...
When Lano and Woodley worked together, Frank Woodley was always the more likable one. In fact, I believe in their farewell tour they asked audiences to pick who they preferred, and it was always Woodley.
But that wasn't surprising - Colin Lane was always Skipper to Woodley's Gilligan. Not exactly a straight man, but Lane was bossy, bullying and occasionally sadistic. You weren't really supposed to like him.
Now working a solo performers, it's interesting to compare how they have developed. Woodley's Bewilderbeest, which consists of a mix of songs, sketches and stand-up, is very much an extension of his earlier persona.
The physical comedy is there, the faux embarassment and awkwardness, the uncontrollable hands. But there's more than that. Woodley has grown as a performer since going solo and the audience is sticking with him - as evidenced by his venue: the main room at the Forum Theatre.
Woodley's show lets him demonstrate his diverse skills - he goes from a Chaplin-esque exercise in physical comedy when performing as drunken golfer to a Tom Waits-like bluesman that manages to be lyrically funny while also delivering sight gags. It's really a top-notch show that's fairly safe for both young and old audiences. (Read Kylie Northover's review here)
Colin Lane's Not Sure About the Music suffers by comparison. While Lane's show is styled as a cabaret (which is often used by some shows to explain why they're not funny), audiences heading to see it should reasonably expect some decent laughs.
Lane performs covers of the likes of Missy Higgins, You Am I and even the Veronicas, warning the audience that the will feature songs that don't have jokes in them. The problem is, the lengthy sections in between songs are also missing decent jokes. Instead, we get fairly rambling material about Lane's relationship to modern music.
The big problem is really that, while Woodley has embraced his previous persona and taken it to new heights, Lane seems to be trying to shed his. The problem with this for the audience is that we expect him to have that nasty edge he had during his time in the duo and it is sorely missing here. It's not until the last 10 minutes when Lane begins to let his darker side resurface that the show really gets going - and then it's over.
So, as you have probably guessed, in the battle between the former partners, Woodley comes out on top.
i haven't seen his show, but I'm sure it's better than that person thinks. I still love you, Col! 
