By Jessica Taurins
Hot Department – aka ‘brother and sister’ duo Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva – are incredible at what they do, and Amalgamation is no exception.
Birthed fully formed in an acting school in Ballarat, and accused of eating their own twins outside of the womb, Wolff and Durnan Silva are equal co-hosts of the show, tumbling gracefully between pair sketches and solo performances. Their unique brand of comedy hits you right in the face as they open with a Broadway musical showstopper… then they decide it isn’t the right vibe and they try again. And again. And again. To hilarious effect!
Amalgamation itself is a repeat show, crafted from bits they’ve developed over their entire careers. Luckily, instead of being a drag (although, there is some drag), this turns the show into a celebration of their skills and a highlight reel of their greatest moments. Wolff and Durnan Silva have some intensely crazy ideas in their little brains, and it is a delight to see them spill forth across the stage.
Wolff and Durnan Silva have incredible energy, keeping the audience high for the entire hour. Some characters are lower energy than others – by design – but the duo’s ferocious intensity still shines through. From Wolff, my particular favourite persona was her tap-dancing telegram, with the saddest little taps across the stage as the audience are forced to deliver her bad news from a series of pre-written notes. From Durnan Silva, the comedian who can’t land a punchline, morosely attempting comedy for a good ten minutes while literally sweating puddles from his elbows.
Personally, I think the duo’s greatest works are their short-form sketches, rather than their longer ones. ‘Impressions’ was wonderful, riotously funny by switching up characters every few seconds so nobody outstayed their welcome. Similarly, ‘Foley’ was another of my favourites, with Wolff as the soundboard and Durnan Silva as the long-suffering actor, forced to match his movements to whatever crazy noises Wolff thought up on the spot.
On the other hand, their longer, more overtly sexual sketches lost me a bit, although to be fair to them this is a very personal preference. My partner adored their longform sketches, really enjoying the unexpected banter and interplay between the duo, and the audience around me were riotous with laughter. For me, I found the longer sketches outstaying their welcome a little, blurring the lines between clever jokes inclusive of sex and sexuality, and presenting shock value for shock value’s sake.
However, I beseech you to not let that stop you from seeing Amalgamation or checking out any other Hot Department show. Wolff and Durnan Silva are strong, talented comedians, using their physicality and sexuality to mock the world around them (as well as themselves, just a little bit). For those who like their comedy a little saucy, a lot queer, and very nude, Amalgamation will be an absolute hit.
