Warts, Wheels and All!

OUR STRAIGHT MATES BY MATTHEW MYERS From The Doug Anthony All Stars to writer, teacher, artist, director and producer, Tim Ferguson is back with a new show. DNA: Tell us about your new show A Fast Life On Wheels. Tim Ferguson: It’s autobiographical but, like all creative projects, veers off into unexpected alleys, from ancient Egypt all the way to my birth and the present day. A lot of the things we’re dealing with, such as Trump, all started with the pyramids. They were the first inklings that people were getting organized, so the trouble all started there. The show’s about celebrating a lack of organisation! I’ve been to gay bars but most of the time I don’t get hit on. Despite the rumours, gay men tend to be quite shy… Your book Carry A Big Stick and documentary Tick Fucking Tock brought your Multiple WARTS, Sclerosis to everyone’s attention. Do you think people have a good understanding of MS? I think people are pretty aware of MS, but one thing concerning all people with disabilities is that employment levels are dismal. That’s everything from Down Syndrome to Multiple WHEELS Sclerosis to acquired injuries. People with a disability are perfectly capable of doing stuff, like the Paralympics, for example. If they can play tennis or enter diving competitions, they can work in people’s stores. Research has shown that IWD (Individuals With Disabilities) AND ALL! turn up on time, stay late and don’t bitch and moan. They make better employees and it PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES PENLIDIS JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY makes a business look like they give a shit. 32 DNA Tim (centre) with The Doug Anthony All Stars in the early ’90s. Along with Paul McDermott and Richard You teach a comedy-writing master class Fidler, you were part of The Doug Anthony All and wrote the screenwriting manual, The Stars comedy act in the ’90s. Fond memories? Cheeky Monkey. Do you think that writing or We were drunk most of the time, I remember performing comedy is a natural gift? that! We were turning up in strange countries Once, on stage It’s a craft. There might be some who are and surprising everyone simply because we naturally gifted at writing, but I haven’t met were from Australia and had read books. It was them. You have to build a comedy from the an exhausting sort of life. in London, ground up and eventually obey certain ancient What was been the best thing about The Doug principles that make people laugh. If you avoid Anthony All Stars reunion? them, because you’re being clever, it can still Our audience hadn’t gone anywhere. We my pants fell be fantastic, but nobody will laugh out loud. assumed the audience would’ve found some Comedy has pretty simple principles and once new toy, but it turns out there’s nobody doing you know them, it saves you lots of time. So that aggressive, provocative and sometimes down… Nobody natural talent is of no use. The craft is what it’s offensive, hyperactive musical comedy, all about. anywhere in the world. Most comedians don’t Do you like old school comedy such as Lucille even sing, little alone walk on stage and pick a complained, Ball, Don Rickles or the Carry On films? fight with the audience. It’s been great fun. Yes, they’re always good fun, but what’s Back in the early days of the DAAS, gay boys interesting is that the principles and scaffolding drooled over you. Were you aware of that? they were of those old comedies are exactly the same No, but I imagine they would’ve! How could you underpinning modern comedies. Whether drool over Paul? Too short. And Richard’s too you’re talking about The Mighty Boosh, The nice. Whereas I was tall, dark and handsome, all so damn Office or any other smart-arse comedy, they’re rich and famous… and polite! all based on Carry On films, I Love Lucy, The But you must’ve been to gay bars and been hit Honeymooners and, of course, Abbott and on by guys? impressed! Costello’s routines. I’ve been to gay bars but most of the time I don’t When it comes to music, who’s your diva? get hit on. Despite the rumours, gay men tend to strut. The interesting thing about Frank- I love Streisand. The way she plays that voice. to be quite shy about throwing themselves at N-Furter is that, to my surprise, he doesn’t What breath control! She can hold a note as people. I’ve been flirted with but there’s never mince. He’s highly charged and aggressive, very pure and strong as if it’s being blasted out of an been a time where I’ve thought someone’s masculine and sexually veracious. elephant’s lung! I’ll also say Lily Tomlin. Sure, coming on too strong. What do you think of sitcom reboots? she can’t sing, but she can talk up a storm! Who are your best gay mates? They’re great. The audiences already love Have you ever had an on-set wardrobe I’ve got a couple in Sydney who tell me they’re the show, whereas a new sitcom can fall over malfunction? gay but they’ve never actually proven it to me. because of unfamiliar characters. Look at Will Once, on stage in London, my pants fell down. And I get on very well with my lesbian friends. And Grace: they’re talking about Trump and They were getting old and just collapsed off There’s something about their sense of humour gender fluidity and all the modern interesting my belt. Nobody complained, of course, they that I find quite devilish. things. Roseanne was going well until she were all so damn impressed. In fact, there was a What are your memories of playing Frank- opened her mouth on Twitter, but The Conners respectable silence. N-Furter in the 1998 Rocky Horror Show at is well written and sharp, and they’re talking Sydney’s Star City? about things happening now. That was great! At least in the fishnets I didn’t What do you say to a Funky Squad reboot? MORE: A Fast Life On Wheels kicks off this overheat. The five-inch heels were tricky. Funky Squad was a reboot of its own, rebooting month in Perth. Go to cheekymonkeycomedy. During rehearsals I went through a lot of shoes! ’70s cop shows. It was fun, but I can’t imagine com By the time we did the show, I’d learnt how what a reboot of a reboot would look like. DNA 33.

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