Melbourne’s Comedy Elite Gathers for Tim Ferguson’s “The Cheeky Monkey” Launch
The vibrant comedy scene of Melbourne was out in full force on Saturday night, celebrating the highly anticipated launch of comedian Tim Ferguson’s latest literary endeavour, The Cheeky Monkey. The event, held as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the illustrious Melbourne Town Hall, brought together a constellation of the nation’s comedic talent.
Among the distinguished guests were seasoned performers and writers who have already made their mark on the Australian entertainment landscape. Attendees included the inimitable Paul McDermott, celebrated comedy writer Mark O’Toole, producer Marc Gracie, the distinctive voice of Flacco (Paul Livingston), and the multi-talented writer-comedian Peter Moon.
Ferguson, a name synonymous with the anarchic energy of the Doug Anthony Allstars, has transitioned into the academic realm, now imparting his wisdom on comedy writing at RMIT. His creative pursuits extend beyond the written word; he is also currently immersed in the development of his first feature film, a romantic comedy.
The impetus behind The Cheeky Monkey, Ferguson explained, stems from a palpable lack of quality local comedy on both the small and big screens. “We need to stop Australian television from not making sitcoms and save the Australian film industry from itself,” Ferguson declared passionately. He elaborated on his concerns regarding the current state of Australian cinema, particularly its over-reliance on dramatic narratives.
“Australian film is in the hole it’s in because there’s too much drama being made by Australian filmmakers,” he stated. “There are no comedy scripts in development with Screen Australia at the moment – that’s a disaster, given that 14 of the top 20 box-office hits in Australian cinema history are comedies.” He humorously pointed out that the 15th on that list, Gallipoli, also possesses strong comedic undertones in its early narrative. “At the end it stops being a buddy movie and we get the message, but until then it’s two Aussie blokes in Turkey causing trouble, going to the bazaar.”
Ferguson believes that while Australians have a deep-seated love for comedy, the content they are being served often leans towards the melancholic. “Our screenwriters are depressed and they don’t know comedy language, so they write stories about dark and horrible things,” he observed. “Comedy talks about those things as well, but in a different way.”
The Cheeky Monkey aims to demystify the art of crafting compelling comedic narratives. The book delves into the fundamental principles of writing funny stories and is replete with practical exercises designed to nurture the next generation of comedy writers. It also features insightful examples and tributes to Ferguson’s comedic idols, including his former Good News Week collaborator, Paul McDermott.
Ferguson took the opportunity to rally the crowd, urging them to support McDermott’s Gold Logie nomination. “That’s Gold Logie nominee Paul McDermott,” Ferguson enthused, half-jokingly admitting to excessive texting in support of his friend. “It would be the most wonderful thing if he won it. In the old days, it was a comedian’s award – Don Lane, Bert Newton, Barry Crocker, [Graham] Kennedy. Ray Martin? I love Ray, but it’s a comedian’s thing!”
Beyond galvanising support for McDermott and signing copies of his book, Ferguson emphasised that The Cheeky Monkey is far from a dry academic text. “It’s for writing sitcoms, essentially, but even if you don’t want to write comedy but you want to read about it, it’s still funny,” he assured the audience with a characteristic grin. “I promise.”
Tree Sculptures and Gum-Leaf Prayers Symbolise Hope and Rejuvenation
In a poignant display of unity and resilience, the 19th annual Awakening Easter festival at Docklands offered a powerful message of hope and harmony for communities grappling with the aftermath of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
The festival featured a moving ceremony where children, adorned in bright sunflower attire, decorated three blackened tree-stump sculptures. These sculptures became canvases for prayers and messages of hope for the future, meticulously written on eucalyptus leaves.
Fiona Gunnion, a spokesperson for Awakening, described the ceremony as a potent symbol of “new life that can come from the ashes.” She highlighted the diverse turnout, noting, “Today has seen many walks of life come together; different communities together. It’s through connecting with community and seeing each other that we can have hope.” Gunnion added, “We believe that the Easter message holds the key to a harmonious future.”
Jack Walhout, a member of the Awakening group and a resident of the bushfire-ravaged community of Castella, echoed these sentiments, calling the tree-dressing ceremony a “fantastic symbol of hope.” He spoke candidly about the ongoing struggles faced by those affected by Black Saturday. “A lot of people affected by Black Saturday are still devastated because the process of rebuilding is really slow, so it’s great to see hope come into the community in any form,” Walhout stated. He concluded by reflecting on the universal symbolism of growth and nature, observing, “There’s something about growth and green which symbolises hope and makes you look to the future.”
ALISON FONSECA
