the taranto show

Cheese Shop Live Xmas Show #6 (1997)

Dave's 1997 catchphrase seemed mellower than in previous years. "Is there sufficient love and energy in the room?" he asked the Cheese Shop Faithful, and without hesitation the reply came back: a resounding "Yes!" Belying this apparent goodwill was a more cynical attitude, however, and Dave proved that what truly united his audience was a dislike of then State Premier Jeff Kennett and his government's harsh economic and social policies. The opening of the largest casino in the southern hemisphere occurred in Melbourne at this time and was seen by many as sounding the death knell for social equity in Victoria.

Fred Rowan summed up the situation in a striking and moving performance, closing the 1997 Cheese Shop Xmas Show, of Don McLean's American Pie. He adapted the lyrics to include all the social difficulties many felt had been created by the incumbent State government including problem gambling, the closure of hospitals and schools and the attraction of exclusive, expensive major events like the Australian Grand Prix. Lynda Gibson (as Caroline Camberwell Cox) parodied the Premier's wife and the re-invention of Victoria as s glossy new home for major events.

The 1997 show also included the extremely popular PLOP!, an amalgam of The Scared Weird Little Guys and Lano and Woodley performing mad musical gems, and the cool, compelling presence of Franklin Ajaye, a musician/comedian who made Melbourne his home for a time.

Dave was proud of the fact that the show almost ran to time, attributing this extraordinary phenomenon to the fact that he put Anthony Morgan on early "before he got too pissed". The order made no difference to Morgan's alcohol intake (he just started earlier), but it did allow for a couple of 'heavies' (cue Dave and Sue-Ann) to politely put pressure on Morgan to wrap up his bit.