talking comedy with frankie mcnair and isaac haigh
From daggy dad jokes to eccentric characterisations, these clever comedians sure know how to scratch that itch on our funny bone.
What’s your new comedy show about? Frankie McNair: Our show is an alt-comedy variety-show nightmare spectacular! It’s set in 1969 at the live studio recording of the final episode of the hit variety show The Booth Variety Spectacular & Formal Apology Hour. It follows host Tabitha Booth (a character I play) as she spirals about being fired live on air. It’s a chaotic descent into madness as we witness her completely derail the show.
Isaac Haigh: Imagine if Graham Kennedy and Liza took psychedelics together in the late ’60s, wrote an hour of the strangest (albeit hilarious) material you’ve ever heard, and then time-travelled to present-day to perform it to 100 people a night for a month. That’s the energy we’ll be bringing to the festival. And directed by the wonderful Michelle Brasier, no less! You won’t find another show like it. Is that a good thing? Time will tell!
Why 1969? Frankie: The show I did last year with Tabitha Booth was set in 2024. She’d had a lengthy hiatus from show business but was making her grand comeback! I wanted to explore her breaking point – what made her stop? Lastly, Isaac did an amazing show called The Isaac Haigh Variety Hour set in the mid-’70s. We got really excited about the idea of doing a universe crossover, so this show acts as an origin story for our characters. And Isaac is obsessed with ’70s Australian TV.
Isaac Haigh: It’s true. I’ve seen more Blankety Blanks than you could poke a stick at. I mean, c’mon! Young Talent Time? Countdown? The Don Lane Show? We just don’t do it like we used to! I’ve gotta get out more.
What’s your favourite variety show? Isaac: Without a doubt, The Brady Bunch Hour. It’s hot garbage (with the exception of Florence Henderson and Barry Williams) and infinitely re-watchable. It was made by the Krofft brothers of HR Pufnstuf fame – so you can only imagine the cursed psychedelic imagery that pervades it. I implore you, reader, run to it.
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How’d you get into the comedy world? Frankie: I’ve always loved comedy. Anytime I went to a friend's house and they had cable TV, I’d immediately put on standup (most of the jokes went over my head but I loved the vibe). In 2017, my best mate and I started a sketch comedy duo called Sweaty Pits. As we travelled the Australian Fringe circuit, I met more comedians and one day I thought I’d give standup a crack. I blanked on stage and raced through my whole set. I remember getting home and saying, “I’m glad I tried it, but I don’t think I’ll do that again.” But eight years later and here we are! Still wearing a variety of wigs and making props out of cardboard. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Isaac: Naivety, mostly. Post-COVID lockdowns, I was hungry to make stuff. The Comedy Festival was always something I was aware of – but being from Geelong, I’d never really made the trek up to see anything (an hour on the VLine? Blergh). 2021 was the first year I attended the festival, and after seeing some great stuff, I decided I’d throw my hat in the ring the following year. I was incredibly lucky to land The Butterfly Club as a venue and had a really fun debut season. Frankie and I actually made our MICF solo-show debuts on the same stage, in the same year! The universe works in mysterious ways.
What kind of prep actually goes into putting on a comedy show? Frankie: As my bloodshot eyes will tell you – a LOT. There’s the fun stuff, like the script and rehearsing, but honestly that's like 20 per cent of it. I feel like the rest of the time is spent making the props and set, finding costumes (on a budget), marketing, designing posters, hustling to make your show standout among a bunch of other incredible shows, getting insurance, making the music, plotting the lighting and tech, making the set, panicking about posting on social media, checking ticket sales, and still working a day job. It's a huge amount of work. So, whenever people take the time to come and see a show you’ve put everything into, it feels so rewarding.
Isaac: I wouldn’t know. Frankie’s done it all. I just show up to rehearsal. Kidding! She’s right – it’s a mammoth task to put up a show for the festival, let alone a show of this calibre. Everyone involved has brought their A game. We’re so lucky to have an incredible group of creatives and performers working their bums off to bring you the show of a lifetime.
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Who’s your favourite local comedian at the moment? Frankie: God, there are so many! Melbourne-based, I would say Alex Hines. She’s insane in the best possible way. She makes the most elaborate shows, she works so hard, and she’s so unhinged and funny. She’s a joy to watch and you never know what you're going to get. She’s one of those comics where every other comedian will come out of the green room to see her set because everyone is so excited by her.
Isaac: Alanah Parkin is the funniest emerging comic on the scene right now. And I’m not just saying that because we’re dating. Or because I’m directing their debut show, “Garage Sale”, running March 26th to April 6th at DoubleTree Hilton as a part of this year’s Comedy Festival. People have accused me of being biased. Phooey, say I! Come along and find out if the accusations are true. (They are legitimately not. Alanah is a powerhouse and soon-to-be celeb. Mark my words).
Think fast – tell us your daggiest dad joke. Frankie: A kid at work taught me this one the other day so I have to give them credit and not a dad. “What do you call a dinosaur fart? A blast from the past.” Comedy is alive and well.
Isaac: “How did the giraffe bite its ear? It stood on a chair.” A real thinker, that one.
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What are you working on next? Frankie: I’m actually releasing an online series following Tabitha Booth. It's completely independent – we raised all the money with a fundraiser show and crowd-funded it, so it's been such a community effort. It's a mockumentary following Tabitha as she comes out of retirement to put on her big comeback show. (Again, a lot of Easter eggs for anyone who sees our show at Comedy Festival this year, or saw my show last year). It's called “The Telling of the Untold Story of Tabitha Booth” and it’s on the Grouse House YouTube Channel from March 19th! Isaac is in it too!
Isaac: Cleaning my house, probably. But after that, I’ve got a few different projects in mind. I’d love to take the time to get properly stuck into writing a musical. I’ve also got a concept for a web-series bangin’ round in my brain that expands the Scrimpy lore and takes a look at the faux history of the company (in the vein of those bizarrely patriotic docuseries on Disney+). Either way, I’m considering a little break from live comedy to focus on a larger-scale project. Sorry, Isaac Haigh fanatics (all three of you – Mum, Dad and @han_comedy_superfan)!
Where can we see more? Frankie: We’re doing our Melbourne International Comedy Festival show at the Arts Centre Melbourne until April 22nd. I’m always jumping on stages around Melbourne, so chuck us a follow to keep up to date.
Isaac: Keep up with my antics here. Or try your luck at catching me unaware while I’m doing my weekly shop at Thompson Parkway Woolworths. Just don’t expect my best work.
This interview comes straight from frankie issue 125. To nab a copy, swing past the frankie shop or visit one of our lovely stockists. For future issues, subscribe here.