Originally reviewed April 2022 for Theatre People.
Have you ever really really looked forward to a show that was really really entertaining on TV but in real life was really really disappointing?
That is how I felt about the 2022 edition of RocKwiz’s Really Really Good Friday.
Although it remains expertly hosted by the entertaining Brian Nankervis and Julia Zemiro, this edition felt clunky, overextended in parts, unfortunately unfunny in others and needed to be way more Kwiz than Rock.
After a fun 15 minute fast round of quizzing to find the audience participation, it was over an hour before we got into the Kwiz part of the night, which was over in 10 minutes before we found ourselves at the 20 minute interval mark. At 9:40pm. Which meant it was 10pm before the Kwiz part really kicked in. Which, by then our patience level had worn very thin and we spent the second part of the night clock-watching rather than enjoying.
I’m not sure if it’s not been “gig” fit after two years of not having these types of shows to enjoy, or the show format itself that needs rethinking.
I appreciate that what makes RocKwiz work it is blend of rock (and in this case comedy due to the MICF on at the same time) performances, chit-chat and quizzing, but I felt like having four performances back-to-back plus the chit-chat was just out of balance.
Grace Cummings, Brian Cadd (who sang one of my favourite songs “Don’t You Know It’s Magic”, which Cadd wrote), Mia Dyson, Clio Renner, Kutcha Edwards and Bob Evans were the musical guests, and for act one comedian David O’Doherty was one of the participants.
Given the average age of the audience, I’m not sure how many other people thought “who”? for the majority of these acts. I always try and keep an open mind when hearing new music though, and can appreciate that all of these performers are talented in their own way, but it felt like too much of an eclectic mix to me. Or maybe I just need to listen to more Triple J?
The audience participation was well and truly alive during the Kwiz parts of the night and I was pleased to know the answers to more questions than I didn’t.
I really really wanted to give this show a higher reviewer score, but this time around, it really really missed the mark. I hope other shows and iterations are tighter and more balanced, because RocKwiz is truly an Australian icon that I hope continues on!
B at The Bows 