SITDOWN COMEDY SUCCESS!:

BRISBANE: An emerging sit-down comedy talent is absolutely chuffed that his breakthrough gig here has been extended through popular demand.

The comedian, who asked that his real name not be used while in character, had them rolling in the aisles yesterday in an inner-city entertainment venue with his impersonation of one of the Turnbull government’s more incompetent and bumbling ministers Alan Tudge.

And he has been rewarded with a second gig today which he hopes will further cement his emergence as possibly one of Australia’s finest comedians ever.

The Bug sat down late yesterday – well, how else would you do it – and asked the comedian how he felt to be finally recognised for his comic genius after years of perfecting his art before small and sometimes hostile sit-down comedy crowds in and around the Queensland capital.

The Bug: You were absolutely amazing. You sounded and looked just like the real Alan Tudge. How did you pull that off!

Comedian: Thank you. A lot of the credit must go to my makeup people. It’s a fantastic latex facemask, isn’t it?

The Bug: Yeah, sure. But, hey, don’t be modest. You’ve nailed the voice and Tudge’s vacuous stupidity simply pours out of you every moment you are on stage.

Comedian: That’s very kind of you to say that.

The Bug: We assume it was your idea to create the stage show purporting to be a royal commission into the Robodebt scandal? Did you come up with the title: “I was never told it was illegal, honest!”

Comedian: It was a perfect fit really. We also workshopped “I don’t recall!”, “My senior public servants left me in the dark, the cunts!” and “Ministerial responsibility? What the fuck’s that!” but we think we settled with the right title.

The Bug: You chose well. The very idea that you … sorry, Tudge ….never knew the scheme was illegal is surely the thigh-slapping throughline in your entire performance.

Comedian: Thank you. I was totally exhausted after today’s performance but all I could keep thinking about was: did I get across to the audience what a slimy, dreadful, incompetent, blame-shifting, lowlife cunt the real Tudge is.

The Bug: We think you achieved that in spades. The number of times you throw your senior people under the bus was so, so very funny!

Comedian: You’re very kind.

The Bug: Your two colleagues who play the royal commissioner and the leading KC are also very good. It must be great to be able to bounce off other fine comedians like that?

Comedian: Very much so. My line … “I had a laser-like focus on this program in terms of trying to understand it and improve it.” … wasn’t scripted. It just poured out as I bounced off my two mates on stage.

The Bug: That was brilliant impromptu. We know for a fact a couple of audience members actually pissed their pants over that line.

Comedian: Thank you.

The Bug: Can we expect more of the same now that you’ve been invited back for an encore performance tomorrow?

Comedian: Maybe. But we’re working on some new material as well because we’re mindful a very fine comedian is following us on stage then.

The Bug: The bloke playing Christian Porter?

Comedian: Correct. He is very, very good. I’ve heard him in rehearsal and we simply can’t afford to be left in his shade.