Eddie Perfect in Misanthropology – Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Eddie Perfect, winner of the 2011 Helpmann Award for Best Cabaret Performer, is perhaps now best known for his television role in Offspring. His role in the mainstream commercial comedy is the polar opposite of his most recent cabaret creation: Misanthropology. The social autopsy combines toe-tapping music and standup comedy with a borderline unhealthy dose of cynicism and narcissism.

For those who know Eddie Perfect only from his television conquests, Misanthropology may come as a shock. For those familiar with more of Perfect’s resume – Shane Warne The Musical, Keating! The Musical and his previous cabaret show Drink Pepsi Bitch! – the expletives and crude themes of Misanthropology are expected and enjoyed.

The shiny-silver-suit-wearing Perfect exudes confidence and clarity, and his tirade about the misgivings of the most highly evolved species on earth is hilarious. In fact, the commentary between songs was the highlight – often commanding greater applause than his musical numbers. The ability to twist human observations into laughs is a gift that Perfect utilises brilliantly and the audience sits in eager anticipation for the next clever anecdote.

[pull_left]The shiny-silver-suit-wearing Perfect exudes confidence and clarity, and his tirade about the misgivings of the most highly evolved species on earth is hilarious.[/pull_left]

The musical numbers, expertly arranged by Perfect for his talented trio, ranged from jazz to pop and showed off Eddie Perfect’s musical theatre heritage. His voice is outstanding (manipulated to impersonate Kerri-Anne Kennerley – plenty of potential jokes there – or the creepy father of a 21 year old girl), however the songs, which ranged from uncomfortable to bizarre, were not always well received.

Numbers like ‘Daddy’s Tits’ and ‘No Means No, Except…’ were musical and energetic but the joke seemed to linger too long. The onstage costume change into lycra for ‘Self-Righteous Cyclist’ was another comic moment.

Of course a social autopsy of this kind must examine the extremes of human nature. The ironic dissection of a range of subject matter (including gang rape, incest, bestiality, and genital mutilation) is not the expected content of a musical comedy – this is Eddie Perfect uncensored.

Eddie Perfect’s Misanthropology is quirky, dirty and hugely funny. Leave your preconceptions (and children) at home and enjoy the ironic dress down of human kind.