Peter Goers’ latest Adelaide Fringe show is “the ninth in a trilogy” and very much follows a popular pattern, with anecdotes about him and others, assorted (and perhaps apocryphal) jokes, some sweet sentiment and sadness, and just a touch of winning bitchiness.
Greeting an audience composed of “pre-deads” (his own “PC term”), Goers talks less about his 20 eventful years at the ABC this time out (not surprising since his retirement last year) and more about old Adelaide, absent and departed friends, and what it is to now be an author. When he mentions his late friend Barry Humphries about halfway through, it prompts a few charming memories and, fittingly, a lengthy, lovely, and spot-on tribute.
With the expected musical appearances by (no spoilers necessary) dear old ‘Smacker’ and The Wills Sisters (first seen dressed as pineapples), this is built upon a quote from Bette Midler after her 1979 tour of Australia, and supposedly builds to the truth behind a big Goers secret which he very nearly forgot to reveal on this, the opening night.
Maybe all that talk of ghastly ham and pineapple pizzas understandably distracted him?
Peter Goers: Ham And Pineapple
until Sunday March 17
Holden Street Theatres
