Umbilical Brothers opening night a disaster, but fans still loved it

They are seasoned performers on Australia’s comedy scene, but the unusual format of the Umbilical Brothers latest show caused chaos on its opening night in Brisbane.

Shane Dundas and David Collins have brought their new show to Brisbane. Picture: Gavin D. Andrew

Sorry my review is late but I have spent all morning trying to come up with a word that suitably sums up The Umbilical Brothers’ new show The Distraction. I’m tossing up between describing it as a disaster or a catastrophe. Both seem suitable.

The word shambles fits equally well. My late mother would have suggested it resembled The Wreck of The Hesperus. I’m sure you all understand that this is a reference to Longfellow’s famous poem.

The show, which was staged in the Playhouse at QPAC, is technology driven with green screens and all sorts of special effects and physical comedy which is fine when it all works but it often doesn’t.

If your show is going to hell it pays to be well dressed, right? Pic Gavin. D. Andrew

Shane Dundas and David Collins, who I’m assuming are not brothers at all, did a lot of apologising on opening night as things stuffed up. I felt sorry for the bloke at the computer running it all.

I was reminded of an Eagles concert I went to back in 1976 at Festival Hall in Brisbane. The Eagles couldn’t quite get their instruments to work for a few minutes and the girl behind us screamed out at the top of her voice … “Get your sh-t together!”

If she had been at The Umbilical Brothers show last night she would have done the same.

This show features lots of comedy with toy babies for some reason – there’s a 2001: A Space Odyssey theme so that fits if you recall the ending of that movie. So yes some of the show is in space, some in a workshop where a show called The Two Tools happens, starring guess who. And they really live up to that this time around.

If you’re offended by the abuse of baby dolls The Umbilical Brothers – Shane Dundas (left) and David Collins – may not be your cup of tea.

It was funny when they superimposed mouths on audience members using their cameras and they had people saying all sorts of silly things behind their masks, which are mandatory at QPAC at the moment.

But that didn’t always work either. The whole thing seemed like an experiment or a rehearsal. Collins and Dundas were like a couple of stoner teenagers trying to create a show from their loungeroom. But that was Wayne’s World wasn’t it?

I should, point out that I don’t think they were actually stoned. I’m speaking figuratively.

As I watched their train wreck of a show unfold I did laugh quite a bit though so that’s good. Because they are comedians, right? The audience seemed to be full of diehard fans and they were very forgiving of all the blips and glitches.

The fact that most of it actually takes place on screen is a comment on how screen-addicted we are. I got that.

I was promised the show was just over an hour long but like any train wreck, they lost control of it and it ended up being 90 minutes long. Did it matter? Not to their fans.

But to me, well, enough was enough. So give me a call guys when the show is fixed and running properly although I’m aware that call may never come.

If you want to go and see the best thing since the sinking of the Titanic, this show may be for you.

The Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction, until Sunday May 2, Playhouse, QPAC; qpac.com.au