Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Australia’s leading – indeed only – sibling Krautrock cabaret parody duo have been at loggerheads ever since they formed. But now their differences have become so irreconcilable that they are splitting this ‘concert’ into two separate solo projects so they don’t have to compromise – or even interact.

Of course, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Astrid, hours late for her soundcheck, noisily sets up her drum kit during Otto’s supposed moment in the spotlight. And when her backing band fail to show, she reluctantly agrees that her pitiful brother can provide guitar.

It is a well-established double-act dynamic: Otto’s the straightman trying to perform in earnest, while Astrid, a petulant, childish tinpot dictator, is always disrupting him.

To remain true to his rather pathetic character, Otto’s songs are not always the best. One’s described as resembling Depeche Mode on ketamine covering The Wiggles, and sadly we do have to endure it. And when ‘inspired’ by Iggy Pop and The Stooges, he produces a very close rip-off, with his feline take on I Wanna Be Your Dog laden with double entendres. 

However the pair behind the heavy makeup, Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias, clearly care about their music and perform with a powerful verve. There are some genuine bangers when their alter-egos join together, such as the catchy, punky protest song Shush Now, that set the rock-and-roll Party atmosphere alight.

Between the songs, they bicker like only siblings, even fake ones, can. Astrid is forever putting Otto in his place for mansplaining, whingeing, or daring to have an opinion. Petty to the extreme, they even physically divvy up the venue into their own sections, as in an ancient episode of Steptoe & Son, to mark their turf. 

This friction is more appealing than the usually low-rent jokes, with Tobias nailing the moody, sad clown persona and Bartholomew proving both an excellent bully and a fine slapstick comedian. Getting on and off the slightly-too-high platform where her drums sit is an especially delightful slice of physical comedy.

They keep the energy high – except when they deliberately crash it, such as in Astrid’s monotone dirge about the future – and after all the conflict, the finale’s as upbeat a singalong as you could hope for. Even if it could be comically tighter, the show remains a blast.

• Die Roten Punkte: Otto & Astrid's Joint Solo Project is on at the Malthouse Theatre at 7.15pm (6.15pm Sundays, no show Monday) until April 23

Review date: 15 Apr 2023
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival