Greg Lavell on keys

Magic assistance provided by Lawrence Leung

I have known Andy for a long time now and knew he had partners but did not expect that he would meet someone like Lousia, they are just so perfect together and everyone seems to be very happy for them. Wanting to see them both in a show together was certainly at the top of my list but it seems it took a while to come together with the pandemic and Andy trying to do the same show at Perth Fringe three times before he could even do it once.

When I first saw Andy he was doing shows with Lawrence Leung for a few years but then they both branched out on their own. Andy was also involved in the ASRC benefits which seem to have been revived in the last couple of years but with someone else running them so no one I know, as long as they make a lot of money for the organisation is the main thing.

The show follows a family of entertainers but the two parents have passed away after many years and the “children” now well into adulthood are still singing their own parts. I actually saw All Our Exes Live in Texas attempt to do a song they only knew their own parts to and it was painful, but this show makes it funny. I also loved their sailor suit outfits and had to restrain myself from pinching Andy’s cute little dimpled knees. I did get to help out Andy with a wet wipe due to the costumes getting a bit sweaty.

Greg Lavell plays their accompanist and has his own parts in the show as he should do as he recently earned a Green Room award and I saw him just last week in Cabaret Unscripted.

The show also covers the history of entertainers over the years starting with vaudeville and proceeding up to the 1960s after which things got “weird” and they didn’t really fit in. I particularly enjoyed the reference to pianola rolls as I found a whole bunch at an opp shop just down the road. I was even considering buying just one like I have the one laserdisc of HACKERS for display as getting the original thing to play it on costs many times more than it was originally out.

There is a lot of singing and dancing and magic with ample assistance for this show from Lawrence Leung. I did get asked by Lawrence if I thought the magic tricks worked out and from where I was sitting right up the front they did seem to.

This is also a rare show that you can bring younger children and older relatives to as there are a couple of curse words “bother!” and “blast!” but in general it could be a kids show if the timeslot was different.

An excellent show! I’m not just saying that as I have known Andy for 20 years and want his show to go well. There were other comedians there also who wanted to see the show which is always a good sign.

I did get to stay back a bit and talk to them after, if only to find out the context of the pirate story with Louisa and talk to Lawrence Leung about MR FONG from “The Somewhat Accurate History of Pirates” who would be 28 now. As it turns out Lawrence did a show with Marita Dyson back in 2000 in the comedy festival but I did not see it, I was in the city at that time but went to the Goodies convention and a couple of other shows. I will hopefully get to see Andy about the place on MC duties or DJing events like the live podcast for A Rational Fear when they next do a show in town.

Rating: 5/5

Show details:

Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/the-von-donk-family-old-timey-vaudeville-revue

Adult: All Tix $39.00

Concession: All Tix $35.00

Group (6+): All Tix $31.00

Tightarse Tuesday: $30.00

Broke Butterfly: All Tix $15.00

Early Bird: All Tix $29.00

Times and dates:

Fri 12 Apr: 8.30pm;

Sun 14 Apr – Sun 21 Apr: 8.30pm

The Butterfly Club – Upstairs, 5 Carson Pl, Melbourne

Show length: 55 Minutes