Australian political comedy pioneer Charles Firth (The Chaser,) and his protégé James Schloeffel (The Shovel) return to the Adelaide Fringe via The May Wirth in Gluttony, to skewer everything #auspol in another hour of power. With heavy reliance on their projector, Spin takes us down the rabbit hole of media manipulation in Australian politics. No politician is safe, and neither are the media nor corporations. Indeed, anyone attempting dark arts PR on unwitting Australians today is in line for a serve from these two pros. Wearing suits and ties and quick firing plenty of understated punchlines, there is quite a bit of Clarke and Dawe about Firth and Schoeffel. In enough time, perhaps they could reach that great echelon of Australian political humour as their on-stage chemistry continues to develop. They certainly have the potential, given their incisive wit and diligent commitment to political comedy. Generally speaking, Schloeffel sets them up for Frith to knock them down. Both performers get punchlines, but it seems the senior partner Firth is taking the lion’s share. And with good cause, given Firth’s considerable experience as a political comic, which shines through effortlessly. Schloeffel is adept too, but perhaps just lacks a little star power at this stage of his career. Nothing compares to TV time and Firth has had plenty in his day. Naturally the sitting PM is firmly in the crosshairs most of the evening. There are hard hats, high vis, milk cartons and plenty of misdirects, half-truths, and matters of interpretation. We are even treated to a South Asian cooking demonstration (with audience participation,) teaching us how to curry favour via social media. We are treated to a little local fare as well, proffered mostly as a courtesy to the audience. The strongest material is the tried and tested content from the various Chaser and Shovel social media outlets. If you’re a diehard follower of those mastheads, you might feel a little short-changed as about a quarter of the show is recycled. But then again, any diehard fan worth their salt should see these two maestros live if they can. Nothing compares to the pantomime-like energy they elicit from the audience as the various villains of our political landscape are each given their turn. If you’re politically minded and in need of a chuckle at the ineptitude, ignorance, and infuriation of Australian politics, this show is absolutely for you. Firth and Schloeffel have dedicated themselves to extracting every ounce of mirth available in a national news cycle that often feels anything but joyful. As bad as the headlines can feel at times, take an hour this week to grab a drink in Gluttony and allow the masters of Spin to help you see the funny side.