TOMMY BRADSON – SWEET SIXTEEN OR THE BIRTHDAY PARTY MASSACRE Garden of Unearthly Delights Until 17 Mar 2013 Review by Jamie Wright Australia’s suburban culture is a frequent target for parody, which means it takes something special for it to stand head and shoulders above the rest. “Tommy Bradson – Sweet Sixteen or the Birthday Party Massacre” certainly does that. Think Kath & Kim meets John Waters – the US writer/director of “Hairspray” and “Pink Flamingos”, not the Australian performer – and given a healthy hit of backyard methamphetamine. Bradson takes on four roles in this suburban birthday celebration at the Whitlam house (pig on the spit, cheese cubes, Coolabah casks in both red and white): the hostess, June; her lacklustre husband Garry; the birthday girl, Lula; and her boyfriend, Johnny – all of whom talk almost non-stop, a wonderful poetic barrage of exposition both insightful and inflammatory. You have to listen carefully, but it’s worth it. His characterisations are nothing short of astonishing; at one point I had to remind myself that they were all being played by the one performer. The wacky, tacky Whitlam family’s rapid-fire commentary is hilarious enough to make a show of its own, but Bradson doesn’t stop there, breaking into song throughout – and he’s got a hell of a voice, alternating between gravelly rock/blues numbers and crooner tunes. In this he’s backed by a great three-piece band: ubiquitous cabaret maestro Matthew Carey on keys, Sam Leske on guitar and Holly Thomas on drums. It is coarse, vulgar and offensive to just about everyone – while at the same time outrageously funny and fiendishly clever; a truly gifted performer in a brilliant, unique show. Rating 5 stars (out of 5)