Performance
© Ridiculusmus 2009
Supported by:
The Herald Sun, Melbourne 2004
Ideas Men
Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre
by Kate Herbert
RIDICULUSMUS make me ache with astonishment each time I see them. Their lateral view on language, comedy and human nature is inspired. David Woods and John Hough bring a welcome breath of imagination and theatricality to a Comedy festival dominated by predictable stand up comedy.
The ideas men differsfrom the English duo’s previous show, Say Nothing, but it has the same compelling characterization and leaps of logic. Say Nothing dealt with the insanity of the Northern Irelan conflict. The Ideas Men is a satire on overpaid corporate ninnies who construct seminars about nothing much – from even less.
Liam Brady (Hough) and Mike Mullett (Woods) are two idiotic ideas executives who are brainstorming plans for a “creativity role-play seminar”.
Not only do Liam and Mike have no ideas, they have no skills, no plan or strategy, no outcomes and even less hope.
Mike (Woods) is an insecure , ineffectual man with scruffy hair, an irritating voice and bad breath. Liam (Hough) is a reserved, critical and occasionally weepy little man.
The Ideas Men is unpredictable, crazy, intelligent, inventive and hilarious.
Related pages:
.. The Sunday Age, Melbourne 2004 .. The Age, Melbourne 2004