After a triumphant spell at the Edinburgh Festival with Sammy J and the Forest of Dreams, comedy duo Sammy J and Randy are back with their most surreal show yet. Ricketts Lane has been described as a live sit-com with an HBO twist, and if the recent string of sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House are anything to go by, it works.
Sammy J is the stage name of Sam McMillan. McMillan is a comedian, musician and writer, and has appeared on various television shows in his native Australia. As well as performing with Randy, he will be making solo appearances throughout the Edinburgh festival period, though he puts this down to practicality rather than an excessive work rate. He noted:
“[It’s] a long way to come to Edinburgh, you’ve gotta take what you can.”
Sammy J and Randy are one of the more unusual double acts at the Edinburgh Festival. The number of acts featuring a skinny Australian lawyer and his purple house mate is, as you might imagine, limited to one.
Randy told STV: “Everything is very realistic about this situation”.
Sammy J elaborated: “Everything we do is pretty much based on fact. When Randy was born the doctors gave him six months to live, with eyes like that and a face like that….”
The duo has dry wit aplenty, and an almost telekinetic connection that often results in them finishing each other’s sentences. They aren’t a ventriloquist act though. In reality Randy is played by Heath McIvor. A puppeteer from the age of 17, McIvor has performed in theatre as well as television. Like Sammy J, Randy will also be performing in his own solo shows at the Fringe this year.
Asked whether the solo shows add a competitive edge to their performances, Sammy J gave STV an exclusive:
“I’m poaching his audience members, he doesn’t even know this, this is a world first. I’m poaching audience members directly from his line!”
Ricketts Lane was the winner of “Best Show” at the 2010 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and has drawn impressive crowds throughout Australia. Booking early is advised. For more information and booking details consult the Edinburgh Festival website.
