Imagine two nerdy netballers, clad in fluro lycra pants and accompanied by a booming synth soundtrack. You'd only get a hint of the unhinged energy of High Pony, the hyperreal invention of Mel and Sam, musical comedy extraordinares hailing from Melbourne. Mel and Sam have bring an infectious, unbridled energy to live musical comedy, commanding the stage with razor-sharp wit and electrifying chemistry. Imagine Dawn and French hosting a Zumba class. Loud and proudly queer, our duo isn't afraid to get a little provocative and silly to get a laugh (no other show will deliver a compelling musical argument as to why all babies should be cancelled!) The original music is side-splittingly hilarious. A fusion of pop, rock opera and synth, each song revels in provocative humour and non-PC chaos. The ticket is worth it just for the 9-minute opening number Net-F***king-Ball. Easily some of the funniest original music I've heard in years; if they ever release a soundtrack, I'll be the first in line. If their music chops weren't impressive enough, both performers have impeccable physicality and comic timing to back up each new sketch. How Mel and Sam keep their stamina up through their exaggerated body movements and intense dancing is a mystery, but I’m all the more impressed. Their impressions of water slide attendants, pterodactyls, and “mad lads” will leave you breathless with laughter. Only the ending act feels a bit out of place and off-brand, shifting abruptly from original music to musical parody. The jokes feel a little less fresh by comparison, and the pot-shots at American politics feel like well-trod ground compared to the originality of their preceding numbers. Nonetheless, even with one less memorable entry into the mix, their skills as live performers and songwriters is undeniable. Mel and Sam are an undeniably entertaining pair with a delightfully deranged sense of humour, and High Pony is an exemplary show to watch them shine. High-energy parody pop that makes for an outrageous hour of achingly funny musical sketch comedy. FOUR AND A HALF STARS ****1/2 Reviewed by Justine Hall