“There comes a point in every duo’s life where you have to ask yourself, ‘Have you lasted longer than Lano and Woodley?’
“There comes a point in every duo’s life where you have to ask yourself, ‘Have you lasted longer than Lano and Woodley?’ And if the answer is yes, then we’ve won and we have to leave,” jokes Rusty Berther the vocalist and banjo-playing half of musical comedy duo, Scared Weird Little Guys.
It has been 21 years, 125,000km, numerous frequent flyer points, and several awards (including an ARIA for Best Comedy release) for Berther and comedic partner John Chaplin-Fleming, affectionately known as The Scardies. And now, more than 4000 shows later, they are calling it quits with their farewell tour aptly named, Enough Already.
Having been a staple in the comedy scene since forming in 1990, The Scardies will showcase some familiar favourites as well as new material in their final show. “Basically after 21 years, we had to do it as a greatest hits package really,” explains Berther. “The funny thing about doing music and comedy, I think if you do stand-up you’re expected to come up with something new, but if you go see a band, you want to see it with songs you know, so we’re sort of stuck in the middle there. People would come to our shows and expect to hear songs, even though they’re comedy songs. So everyone can rest assured that most of their favourite songs should be in this show, but we also have a quarter of the show that’s new stuff, because we just like to do that as well and try and keep everyone happy. So it’s greatest hits plus a bit of new stuff.” Amongst the favourites is the group’s own edgy rendition of Waltzing Matilda, remixed to Eminem’s Lose Yourself track with Rusty on rap, and Jon on guitar.
There have been many jibes made about the reasons behind bringing Scared Weird Little Guys to an end, and on the day of our interview Berther cracks, “Well basically, everyone is asking us why. We really hated each other after about two years but we thought we give it another 18 years just to make sure.” But in the end, the reasons are simple: “Ultimately it’s just time – it’s been 20 years for god’s sake!”
Before The Scardies formed, both Rusty and Jon were both musicians. “Most of our comedy comes through music and rhymes and wordplay, and we love musical tricks and musical, technical things,” explains Berther. And it seems post-Scardies, the two may embark on a new musical journey of their own… or not.
“I’m going to get into kids’ entertainment and start a group called High One. It’s just like High Five, I’ll do kids’ songs, but I’ll be high. Jon is going to start a Powderfinger cover band called Talcum Digit.”
The Scared Weird Little Guys perform Enough Already at The Athanaeum Theatre from March 29 – April 3. It’s at 7pm Wednesday – Saturday and 6pm on Sundays. Tickets are $25 – $24.90 and you can book at Ticketmaster online, 1300 660 013, through The Athanaeum on 9650 1500 or buy them on the door.
