Frank Woodley Bemusement Park

Ever since bursting to national prominence as one half of the madcap physical comedy duo Lano & Woodley way back in the hoary decade known as the 1990s, comedian Frank Woodley has grown to become one of Australia’s best-loved funnymen. 

On second thoughts, ‘grown’ might not be the right word: despite now being in his mid forties (!) there’s something of the perennial awkward teen in Woodley’s stage persona.  One minute he might appear polished, almost unflappable - he has, after all, been doing this for almost 30 years - before the facade of professionalism comes crumbling down with a boyish smile, self-deprecating line or a flailing of gangly limbs, all timed for maximum comedic effect, of course. 

Woodley’s first solo standup DVD captures him in fine fettle, and fans of Lano & Woodley and his many hilarious appearances on shows like Spicks & Specks and Thank God You’re Here will find much to enjoy in this tight, hour-long Warehouse Comedy set.  Featuring one of the more memorable entrances in Australian comedy history, Bemusement Park is frequently laugh-out-loud funny and captures the frenetic, freewheeling Woodley at his most potent, whether he’s ruminating on exactly why he’s such a nervous person or recalling the time he thought he overheard his mother in law calling a newborn baby an asshole. 

Music, one-liners, surreal anecdotes and Woodley’s rubber-limbed physicality all combine here to maximum effect - Bemusemark Park is a mixed bag, to be sure, but it’s also an eminently impressive debut outing and one fans of the inimitable comic won’t want to miss. 

Bonus Features

A ‘Non-Swearing Audio Option’ which may prove handy for those with children (not that Frank’s language ever gets too blue) and an excellent 40-minute special self-explanatorily entitled Highlights from Bewilderbeest, which essentially amounts to a second show for the price of one.