Comedy consortium bids for rights to Jesus
By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE — Highly regarded local entrepreneurs Rod Quantock, Fred Rowan and Lynda Gibson (better known for their comedy appearances on stage and TV) are preparing a bid to secure the rights to the biggest blockbuster entertainment of the millennium and bring it to Jeff Kennett's Victoria.
Called Happy Birthday Je$u$, their bid for the event was unveiled at the Victorian Trades Hall on November 19 with a "very Melbourne" series of entertaining speeches, political rants, a delicious three-course meal and hilarious stand-up routines. Rowan's superstar friends Sting, Bob Dylan and silverchair were also in attendance.
The Quantock-Rowan-Gibson consortium looks set to secure the exclusive rights to The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (affectionately dubbed "Coming II"), which is set to take place in the year 2000, coincidentally the 2000th anniversary of the first one.
"We're gathering heavyweight pollies, gorgeously coiffed celebrities and medal-winning sports stars to lobby for the biggest entertainment event since the last imported musical", said Quantock.
In a break with tradition, Eddie McGuire will not host Coming II, but both Packer and Murdoch are negotiating for the rights. Melbourne major events watchers have already noted that Coming II would fill the "event void" between the Spring Carnival and the Grand Prix-Moomba season. It is also hoped that it will seriously impact on the success of the Sydney Olympics.
Happy Birthday Je$u$ has got the lot — more charisma than John Howard, more jokes than question time in parliament, more ludicrous statements than a One Nation policy and more tasty morsels than the Last Supper.
Je$u$ will run Wednesday to Sunday, 7.30pm, until December 20, at the Trades Hall. For tickets phone (03) 9639 3282 or book through Ticketmaster.