Live Review: Jimmy Rees
Not That Kinda Viral at Riverside Theatre – Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre on 23 September2023
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Janis House Photography
Jimmy Rees is the maestro of alter egos, masquerading between caricatural characters skylarking in his viral videos. While the final cut would’ve churned through several takes and editing, it’ll be fascinating to sieve through his on-stage dexterity, including the choreography, the dynamic staging and linearity, as the characters and production attempt to slither through the matrix mellifluously. There’s Eric, Jason, Jennifer, The Judge, a cast of extras and The Real Jimmy among the faces of Rees. In short, Jimmy will be talking to himself and his other self in one take – and spewing a high dose of life’s priceless medicine before a capacity audience of 2,500. Pulling this off in a live skit is a challenge.
On the business end, Team Jimmy and promoter Frontier Touring have deployed a catalytic Stage 1 booster for take off. Initially planned as a 12-show “Not That Kinda Viral” tour, the Rees Train has bloomed into a 24-show, almost sold out phenomena, gracing the stage in major venues across Australia – with three capacity shows in Perth alone, making the Melbournian as one of the most successful comedians in this great southern land.
Writer’s disclaimer: This review consists of Perth-tailored spoilers. Viewers of upcoming tours will not be affected.
The televised introduction commences with a bang, hooking the audience as Rees invites the crowd with a relatable connection through the local suburb of Balga (think Sunny Vale in Housos), represented by an eshay with an exaggerated, nasally Aussie accent of the archetype, G’day there, h’ya goin’ – gut any dowrie, eh eh! Switching back to The Real Jimmy on screen, Honestly, I thought we are not selling tickets to this demographic.
Eric of Border Force is lurking at the foot of the state bubble, personifying the hard line policy of Western Australia’s border control during Covid – Hello and welcome to Perf…Perf has strict quarantine requirements to keep you safe – sparking a floating photo of “State Daddy” Mark McGowan, emanating a divine, invincible aura. There’s also dig on the local’s inability to merge on roads.
The “final” local derision at the introduction is supposed to be on West Coast Eagles – but stop short, it can’t be the final, because they didn’t make it into the finals. Several one liners are evidently crafted recently, such as when Rees declaring the Armadale train station – again think Sunny Vale, although one and a half class above Balga – as the local scene for wrestling, prior to the upcoming WWE spectacle at Optus Stadium.
Clearly, Jimmy has done his homework and astutely crafted a comical symphony from the local flavour and lingo – at the introduction. This deliberate spark got everyone giggling from the top end, paving a trickling effect of laughters from his mere presence, as if they are locked in a Dutch oven. Take note, wannabes.
His physicality is endearing, sometimes adolescent-like in a white t-shirt, black jeans and sneakers, yet able to command the attention of white haired, grown adults at Perth Riverside Theatre. Perhaps the lingering legacy, be it subconscious or transitional from Giggle and Hoot is smooched in the fabric of his spirit. Alas, no Hoot tonight.
Rees also casts a huge dose of larrikinism, a paradox of his days on ABC TV. Residing and parodying within the “yeah nah” institute, he’s relatable to all demographics, even cutting through the funny bones of the champagne sipping, high brow society of the western suburbs of Perth. He touches on the mining tax and Gina Reinhart without being political. No crass, but all class. The wobbles and contortions of his physicality of the way he exudes his jokes are hilarious – which is plenty.
And fusing with the characters of the mullet army, Rees’s cartoonish countenance helps to paint every line with the LOL smileys, culminating into a punchline every time he spews about life’s intoxication and banalities. The exaggerated ones – not that he has to – are affective, “You’re from WAAPA? (gawked Rees). Still hanging on the coat tails of Hugh Jackman from forty years ago eh?” – deriding the future prospect of the graduate in the segment The Guy Who Decides, where Rees asks the audiences of their occupations, subsequently improvising a two-way conversation between himself. Teacher? We’d be here for thirteen weeks – referring to the yearly holiday afforded to them.
The social media comedy sensation born out of a Covid wedlock is quick witted, and let everyone know who’s the boss. “Oh, you’re in Social Media…”, asked Jimmy to a punter in the audience, “but I’ve not heard of you”.
The staging enhances the story telling features of his narrative, in this case, minimalistic, without props apart from a yellow door and two screens to assist on the sometimes complex choreography. Perfect, all attention on Jimmy.
Within a comedy spectrum where comedians have been fuelling their mockery through trite profanities and subjugating minorities to possible humiliation to satisfy the raging egos of their narcisstic selves, it’s refreshing that Rees is able to garner the giggles without the gratuitous inoculation .
Rees may have sparked his fame from a small screen sensation to millions of kids for over a decade on ABC TV, but it’s safe to say that Mr Giggle of Giggle and Hoot genuinely loves the live stage for the grownups. His fun factor is sincerely meant, the alter ego is possessed by the very own comic within his funny bone. As for Hoot, we hope you can join Jimmy in his next tour!
Tonight, we witnessed the quintessential Jimmy Rees.
Tickets to the remaining Not That Kinda Viral shows across Australia are available through Frontier Touring
Sheldon Ang Media expresses its gratitude to Frontier Touring and Jimmy Rees for the media invitation.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review over 50 major concerts in Perth including KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Post Malone, Sting, Richard Marx, Harry Styles and Backstreet Boys with reviews and photos shared by the likes of UB40, Boy George & Culture Club, Richard Marx, Delta Goodrem and Tina Arena. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Ian Moss (Cold Chisel) and 40 other legends. Sadly, he’s an Engineer in real life.
