It’s bonkers, is this Queensland’s funniest ever musical?

The audience was howling with laughter at the opening of this unmissable new Queensland musical about a thrash metal group that becomes a children’s band and features an attack by a giant inflatable penis.

The audience went, well, completely bananas, as the final note was sung in Bananaland, an irresistible, absolutely hilarious, captivating, new, feel-good musical comedy that premiered at QPAC last night.

What Queenslander could resist an original new show brimming with musical talent, more jokes than open-mic night at the Toowoomba RSL, a whipper-snipper and a shovel deployed as musical instruments, ironic mentions of Bob Katter and Clive Palmer and a pivotal scene played in a Goondiwindi nightclub? Certainly not this audience. People were hysterical with laughter.

Maxwell Simon, Max McKenna, Georgina Hopson and Joe Kalou in Bananaland at QPAC Picture: Darren Thomas.

Bananaland opened at QPAC’s Playhouse as part of the Brisbane Festival, and is a whole lot of pure fun.

With lyrics and music by Brisbane musical royalty Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, who also has a writer credit, and directed by Simon Phillips, it depicts the journey of a group of wannabe musicians, riven with angst, constant touring and a complete inability to establish any kind of fan base or interest from record companies.

Named Kitty Litter, the group on this particular poorly paved path to nothing like stardom comprises Ruby (Max McKenna) and Karen (Georgina Hopson) Semblance, Seb Kale (Joe Kalou) and Ex (Maxwell Simon). Fuelled by Ruby’s existential fury and desire to save the world, they refuse to be called a band but prefer Onstage Conceptual Art/Music Orientated Happening. After four years they have only one fan who comes to their gigs to hear them spew out songs such Consumerist Pig, Requiem for Patriarchy in D Minor and Bananaland, inspired by the rise of populist politics and the yellow billboards of Clive Palmer’s political push.

Georgina Hopson, Dave Eastgate, Joe Kalou and Max McKenna in Bananaland at QPAC Picture: Darren Thomas.

At rock bottom after multiple incidents at Manhattan, Goondiwindi’s hottest music venue, including a band member being attacked by a bride on a hen’s night wielding a giant inflatable penis, and a misunderstanding leading a horde of kids to attend their entirely inappropriate show, leads them to morph into a children’s band, the Wikki-Wikki Wah-Wahs and they’re soon playing to packed rooms.

The whole thing sounds bonkers because it is and it’s difficult to imagine how such an unhinged plot comes together but it does, courtesy of terrific songs, outstanding vocals, a rocking band and a clever script.

Max McKenna, Maxwell Simon, Georgina Hopson and Joe Kalou in Bananaland at QPAC Picture: Darren Thomas.

McKenna as the lead has an immense, stunning voice and in full flight is simply captivating and is backed strongly by Hopson, Maxwell Simon whose howling solo is a highlight and Kalou, who brings plenty of laughs.

Amber McMahon, who plays Mimsi Borogroves (we see you Lewis Carroll), Jesse Jam Jar, Witney Walkman and others, is crucial to the comedy of the show, with hilarious accents and an awe-inspiring sense of the ridiculous. Chris Ryan who manages to be fan Stephen King, Wade Sewage and Pikelets the Cat is also brilliant, particularly vocally, while Dave Eastgate as Ron, is a big contributor to the crazed comedy.

Outside, a yellow crescent moon like a Cavendish banana lay low over Mt Coot-tha, a fitting celestial salute to a night of musical mayhem that is Queensland to its core but is so much fun that you imagine it will have a life beyond its sub-tropical birthplace.

Bananaland is on until Oct 1 at the Playhouse, QPAC Tickets at qpac.com.au

Joe Kalou as Seb Kale Picture: Darren Thomas.