Laughed right through this premiere screening, along with all the cast & crew, and guests. Australians love their local comedy, and this would appeal to anyone – GLAMM has captured the essence of our society and what ails us, and any viewer could find themes, issues, and personalities to identify with.
We’re provided with a hilarious look at Aussie archetypes in this comedy that lifts the lid on a government welfare service. . “Ozlink” introduces us to the broad range of characters and their problems from both sides of the desk. Let’s hope this series gets taken up for TV.
A large, fabulous ensemble have poured themselves (heads, hearts and hands) into this project, and they gel together well.
We meet Susan, the psychologist, as the anchor to the office and the meaning of government assistance for the unemployed and struggling members of our society. Ana Wall plays her to perfection (oddly enough, she is both actor & psychologist who once worked at Centrelink). I must ‘fess up here; I once worked at Youth Job Centre, an innovation from the CES in the 1970’s.(yes, that’s me with co-workers in the Poster) The actors did such a great job of chan
neling their characters, I could immediately ‘recognise’ people from my past.
Damien, played by Gary Wall, is superb as the larrikin yobbo Aussie tradie type with a dog, filthy long hair, and putrid mouth.
As Bronwyn, the egocentric, uptight, politically driven boss, Mardi Edge is impeccable.
Similarly, all the office staff are impressive – all have nailed their archetypes or steotypes – from the security guard, to Olivia the cynical (Susan Rundle), and the two black reception staff (Andrea Solange and Sangeetha Singh). The blatant political incorrectness, parodies of contentious issues, and droll retorts demonstrate why our Aussie irreverent style of humour is a potent technique for education and reform; we can goodnaturedly laugh our way to self-awareness.
Contrasts between the staff and the clients make each scene iconic interactions of polarity, bureaucratic insanity, and human frailty.
New Age counsellor Verity (Harlene Hercules) has the verisimilitude of the indigenous client (Erryn Nundle), and the ‘public service’ males were wonderfully beige in contrast to the volatile, colourful clientele. The deadpan humour of the wheelchair client, Mia Wheeler (Belinda Aitken) was joyful. The security guard (Sim Cardashian) was terrific. Each and every actor inhabited their roles beautifully. Too many actors to mention them all – but this was truly an ensemble piece where each actor made the sum greater than the parts.
There is the repressed office worker, Wilbur (Michael Fenemore), who still lives with his mother, and confides in his lascivious work mate Gordon (Dennis Manahan). They’re pursued by two cougars and the pub scene on the dance floor is priceless. Kirsty (Jodie Sanders) is a hoot.
With the Ozlink skits, I was somewhat reminded of shows like Comedy Company and our wonderful actors such as Kim Gyngell, Magda Zubanski, Marg Downey et al,
I loved everything about this GLAMM undertaking. It’s hard to find some constructive advice for such an enjoyable product, but perhaps the entire pace and each scene could be accelerated. Staccato scenes in comedy can be exhilarating.
I suspect that shorter – but a greater number of – vignettes of clients and their problems with the service, and the frustrations and obduracy of the staff in enforcing policy introduced in the pilot could keep rolling round laughing and begging for subsequent episodes.
Perhaps what we viewed could be refined into a long pilot plus one episode, as part of the next stage of development. A pacey pilot could quickly establish all the characters and issues with more immediacy, and leave us wanting more where subsequent episodes could flesh people out. The additional episode could be a shorter, tight continuation.
Always difficult to shave scenes off, but I think that a rollicking pace is more likely to get it picked up.
Possibly a couple of the sex scenes could be cut to a hint, not a show – for example, cutting after executive Bronwyn moves toward her hapless young male staff member would suffice. Perhaps that old truism about show, do or say something three times, but not more could be applied.
Overall, I loved it, and I hope this fresh Australian comedy gets taken up. It’s a fabulous cast and crew, and there is great energy around making a Season. Well done, to everyone involved.
Enquiries to Ana Isabel and Gary Wall, GLAMM Productions
Mob 0411234285
