Don't swallow

‘Don’t swallow: A handy guide to keeping your head above water (in an ocean filled with shit)’ is a Blue Room Theatre and JRo Production, in conjunction with Bootleg Comedy Promotions. It is showing at the Blue Room Studio, 53 James Street, Northbridge nightly at 8.30 pm until the 8^th August.

         In this adult show, Robertson is in his stand-up comedian guise, telling us that to complain is better than to eat ourselves up with un-vented anger. After a couple of very funny slide presentations, John told us of his suffering as a youth. All of the topics that we were taught, as children, to avoid in conversation, were now on the table. His whinges on racial prejudice, religion, finances and plumbers were laid bare. His puppets drew a big ‘Oh cute’.

        The performance ended with a song – and considering that John’s performance was one of the most played segments on the first ‘Australian Idol’ series - this too was most professional.

Robertson proved in ‘Cosi’ a decade ago, and more recently in ‘The Goat,’ that he is a more than capable actor. However his main love is comedy, coming 3^rd in the newcomers (Green Faces) National Comedy Competition, and with some wonderful personalities in the style of a young Barry Humphries, John was nominated for an Equity award.

Most comedians leave the stage perspiring and exhausted after a 10-minutes segment, here the 75-minutes show flowed at a tremendous pace, without a single flicker in the fast, enthusiastic delivery and not even a hint of fatigue visible.

Although delivered in the style of a friendly chat amongst friends, the script was obviously very well constructed, and magnificently presented under the direction of Don Smith. Lighting design by Jo Marsh.

On only a couple of occasions in this marathon comedy act did the humour dip slightly. There would be people who were offended, or cringed at the odd joke; but whether or not you like this style of humour, you would have to give this young man 10 out of 10 for his drive and magnetism. Very well received by the majority of the audience. I loved it.