Titwitchez’s Business Boyz is the kind of absolute on-stage fun that I love to see. There was a Monty Python silliness to the whole show that never resulted in eye rolls or was cringy. Every joke was silly, but so carefully planned.
The ‘Business Boyz’ in question are Sammo (Liv Bell), an ex-VFL player that’s new to the company having got the job thanks to their cousin Nips (Emily White), a character that is the physical embodiment of ‘a sigh of pity’, and Bice (Taco Kuiper) the brains and holder of the clipboard.
The second the three performers step on stage with “Takin’ Care of Business” playing, you know that you’re in for a good time. The trio all have this aura of fun and joy, and it’s obvious that they want you to have a great time. The opening dance number is like a burlesque drag show, the choreography is simple, but the way they all bounce off each other (sometimes literally) makes a simply choreographed dance number seem so much bigger.
As our three Business Boyz struggle to prepare for their big presentation, things get weirder and weirder. There are a couple of Shakespeare references thrown in that actually work into the greater story arch, so you won’t need to be familiar with Shakespeare to get the joke. But if you do understand the references, it makes for a super fun discussion on the way home. Witty comedy aside, the obvious passion of all performers is to make the audience laugh. The facial expressions from White always made me smile, as they were so expressive and entirely committed to “the bit”.
I’ve never worked in a traditional office environment but I’m all too familiar with KPIs, so the dread of reaching KPIs was something I was all too familiar with. I want everyone to look to Titwitchez as an example of how to do a recurring joke that doesn’t get old, something that will make your audience laugh every time.
The notion of toxic masculinity is undoubtedly a theme that is played for the most laughs, a joke that Bell seems to relish in taking on this subject. Sammo’s time playing in the VFL where thing “can’t be gay because they’re playing footy” isn’t a ‘wink, wink, nudge, nudge’ joke. You know the ridiculousness of it and Bell obviously loves playing out that absurdity.
There are so many wonderful little skits that make Business Boyz such a pleasure to watch. A particular dance number where the performers danced in costumes of building had me laughing so hard, I was worried I might wet myself. I wasn’t expecting it at all, and the sheer silliness was played so straight that I still laugh when thinking about it. The dynamic with Sammo and Bice with their “no homo” was so successful due in large part to the performance by Kuiper, committing to the character, making what would be an unlikable person, a likeable character.
The one slump in the show was during the Sammo’s podcast. There was a line saying “big girls” with a sexual tone, after this, some members in the audience did display some discomfort. For the rest of the show, it seemed like those particular audience members had lost engagement almost entirely. This is disappointing but is something that Titwitchez may not have anticipated would go down badly with some in the audience.
Overall, Titwitchez’s Business Boyz is so enjoyable that if you love some social comedy, 80s bangers, and drag, this is a show for you. I cannot give this production any fault as I enjoyed every second. If this sounds like your kind of show, I guarantee that it will give you all the serotonin you’ll be needing.
Titwitchez‘s Business Boyz is performing from September 6th until the 10th at Harehole Melbourne in Fitzroy.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/titwitchez_comedy
https://www.facebook.com/titwitchez
https://titwitchez.wixsite.com/titwitchez
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/business-boyz-tickets-373797728067