Brothers, But Not In Arms
Sun Herald
Sunday February 4, 2007
Funny things happen to the Umbilical Brothers, Andrew Taylor writes
THE Umbilical Brothers' schtick includes the sound of gunfire and explosions, which has the potential to alert and alarm in these security-conscious times. However, it was laughter that landed the comedy duo in trouble at Los Angeles airport recently.David Collins and Shane Dundas had been upgraded to business class and were looking forward to some extra leg room and better booze on their flight to Sydney. However, the plane sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes until they were told to get off."We were asked if we had been in the first-class lounge," says Collins. "We said yes and then they said: 'Were you laughing in the first-class lounge?"'Collins and Dundas had been tooling around with Collins's new computer, giggling because they had no idea how to switch it on. This had prompted a first-class passenger to warn of a potential terrorist plot."We were shocked to find out that laughing in first class constitutes terrorism," Collins says.Collins and Dundas were only allowed back on board when a Qantas steward told the security guards: "They're not terrorists. They're the Umbilical Brothers."A note from David Letterman, thanking them for appearing on his show, also helped persuade the humourless airline staff that the Umbilical Brothers weren't a threat.Their farcical brush with security sounds like a skit from the Umbilical Brothers's latest show The Rehearsal, which returns to the stage after a season at the Sydney Theatre last August. Collins and Dundas augment their mix of mime, sound effects and impressions with a video camera and puppet, but otherwise shun props and elaborate staging.And it's not just because it makes the show cheaper to stage, Collins says. "We open people's eyes to the possibility of using their imagination to create laughter."In previous outings of The Rehearsal, the duo explored a world made out of velcro, Collins's alter ego and wind-tossing monkeys. But, says Dundas, "there's always something new"."We may even get to rehearse. Though it's not something we normally do."Rehearsing their act tends to kill its spontaneity, Dundas adds. "We have short attention spans and it's far more fun if you just chat about an idea beforehand and then take it out onstage."Dundas provides the sound to Collins's action, and admits he's occasionally made the whine of a chainsaw when Collins is miming a door opening: "There have been moments when I'm not sure what David is doing, but you just have to go with it."Since Collins broke Dundas's nose with a mistimed kick in an acting class at Theatre Nepean, the Umbilical Brothers have made their career conjuring fantastic worlds out of thin air. They have performed at events such as the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Letterman's Late Show. They were also on the telly late last year with a children's show, The Upside Down Show, which Collins says was hard work."We stupidly wanted to be involved in every aspect of production," he says. "It was the hardest work of our lives. Yet we just got the one pay cheque."The Umbilical Brothers are also ready to take their mime skills to the big screen.Collins says all those Hollywood blockbusters laden with special effects are crying out for mime artists who can communicate with invisible objects and things. "Who's gonna be more believable?" he asks. "Samuel L. Jackson or David Collins? Who're you gonna pick?"The Umbilical Brothers plays at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House from February 6 to 17. $34.90-$44.90. Phone (02) 9250 7777 or see www.sydneyoperahouse.com.
© 2007 Sun Herald
