The Party’s Over             

Created and performed by Reuben Kaye

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP, MAICD

Didn’t think that I would ever be able to say that I was entertained by a comedian as much as I enjoyed and appreciated Robin Williams and George Carlin.

The Sydney Comedy Festival is in full swing, and we were at the Enmore Theatre for two shows. The first was New Zealander Rhys Darby who was okay. 

Then came Australian comedian/performer/singer/mincer Reuben Kaye, a tall, good looking, gay, cross-dressing all-rounder who’s talent is sublime and his insights are deep. He makes Frank N. Furter seem understated. He makes Liberace look like Charlton Heston. You get the picture.

First saw him last year on a panel television show that regularly casts “comedians” whose talents are severely limited. One of them remarked that Kaye was very busy, to which he replied, “I’m so spread over Australia that I could be systemic racism.” He had me in. However, the comment that caused massive outrage was his Easter remark at the time. “I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more.” 

I attended the opening night of the current production of Jesus Christ Superstar in which he plays Herod, a cameo role that allows for big time campery. On that night, my companion who had never seen him said, “He’s REALLY camping it up, isn’t he?” I told her that he normally plays much bigger and was clearly having a hard time holding back from interacting with the audience, but had to for the sake of the production.

The outstanding set of pipes, the insights, the philosophy, the improv and the six-piece band puts Reuben Kaye many levels above other comedians. Within that comedy, he also reminds us of some valuable life lessons. My companion on that night is a veteran, household name performer who isn’t at all easy to please and she was raving.

Reuben Kaye is not for people who are overly sensitive. Even though he’s Jewish he will probably be accused of anti-semitism for saying, “Let me Israel into the audience”. Before physically interacting with audience members, he asks for permission.

Just as Carlin caused controversy with his outspokenness and fearless expression of what many of us were thinking, Reuben Kaye hit his stride at a time when woke snowflakes are the squeaky wheels. With lines such as, “I’m never going to have children. The only way I’ll have children is if they put ovaries in the back of my throat”, some people will be aghast.

Many comedians such as Dave Hughes, Nick Cody and Mick Molloy are “very Melbourne”, which limits their appeal, but Reuben Kaye is a truly international performer in terms of his intelligence, awareness, perceptiveness, fearlessness, expressiveness and talent. He’s a performer for the ages.