“Sorry, did you think you were talking to Aunty Donna?” Once you’re left to your own devices when going up against Broden Kelly, Mark Bonanno and Zach Ruane – AKA Aunty Donna – there’s no telling where on earth you’re going to end up. This particular curveball is thrown by Ruane, revealing: “You’re actually on loudspeaker at the Queensland Young Liberals meeting. We will not be taking any further questions regarding silly skits or funny little jokes, thank you.” Very well – what do you propose to do about the cane toads? “We’re going to fight them,” proposes Bonanno. “We’re going to use our X-Men powers to take them on – and we’re going to win.”
Ultimately, this type of rapid-fire absurdism is what one should expect from speaking with Australia’s most popular surrealist comedic troupe. There’s no mention of any of their current projects – their web-series 1999 or their aptly titled new show, New Show – instead, the trio relay an onslaught of ridiculous tangents, riffing off each other for 20 minutes straight. Take, for instance, the information that the trio will be headed to visit Dreamworld as soon as the interview is finished. This leads, naturally, to asking after the kind of dreams that the three of them have.
“I tend to have really vivid dreams about people close to me in my life eating me,” says Kelly. “For instance, the other night I had a dream that Zach came into my room and started eating my foot.”
Bonanno chimes in: “To be fair, that did actually happen.”
Ruane then explains himself. “I mean, it wasn’t anything aggressive,” he proclaims. “I was kind of doing it more in a playful way.”
As for what Bonanno dreams of? “My dreams tend to involve sick rides and tigers, so luckily all of my dreams are about to come true.”
Kelly leaves the interview on a positive, albeit backhanded note. “Y’know, when I’m waiting for a coffee in the city, and I’m looking for something to read, I look over and pick up this nice little magazine where I can read about all the cool bands. Do you know what I’m referring to?” Let’s see… Rolling Stone? “That’s right,” says Kelly. “That’s all I’ll ever read. The rest are all fucking arseholes. You can print that.”
By David James Young
Venues: Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston St, CBD, Melbourne Town Hall – Lower Town Hall, Cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, CBD & Roxanne – Band Room, 2 Coverlid Place, CBD.
Dates: March 24 – April 15 (except Monday March 28 and Monday April 11)
Times: 8.15pm at Roxanne (7.15pm Sundays), 8.30pm at Melbourne Town Hall, 9.45pm at Max Watt’s
Tickets: $20 – $30
