Article: RESTAURANT SHOW OFFERS A FARCICAL APPROACH TO POLITICS

Thursday November 12, 1981

'PHOCH' cast members Shani Wood and Will Mulholland

A COMICAL study of Parliament 10 years from now is the theme taken by writers Mark O’Connor and Neil Fredericks, assisted by Peter Batey, for ‘PHOCH’ (Parliament House on Capital Hill).

Will Mulholland, one of the cast of five, describes the show as a farcical approach to politics.

With Canberra theatre-restaurant actor Doug Williams as The Speaker, members of the audience have the opportunity to catch his eye and put a few pertinent points to some of the “ministers” in the cast.

The cast reports that there are occasions when members of the audience depart from the script and ask a few awkward questions of their own. But such august persons as the Minister for Decadence and the Minister for Interior Decorating are ready with answers.

Tamara Ross and Shani Wood make their sales pitch as the Fug Sisters and the fifth member of the cast it Chris Rutter, who is well known to Canberra theatre goers.

Music for the show is provided by Tony “Fingers” Magee.

The show plays at the new Tonic Theatre Restaurant at Marios, Petrie Plaza, Civic, on Friday and Saturday nights with an a la carte menu for diners to select from.

First published in The Canberra Times, November 12, 1981