Belly laughs with the Umbilical Brothers

The Umbies, as they call themselves, have surprised the world, and themselves, with the success of their clever, minimal brand of comedy.

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It's not a typical first date, taking someone to see The Umbilical Brothers. The Australian comedy duo don't exactly offer a romantic performance. But this didn't stop an Academy Award-winning actor giving it a try.

"Philip Seymour Hoffman took a girl to see our show in New York and now they're married and have a couple of children. That was their first date," explains one half of the Umbilical duo, Shane Dundas, on the phone from Australia. "It had nothing to do with his charm and intelligence. Our show was the clincher. Obviously I don't know how their marriage is going now, but if they're having problems they should just come and see our show again."

If they ever get sick of running around on stage, The Umbilical Brothers could always turn to marriage counselling. The Umbies, as they call themselves, have surprised the world, and themselves, with the success of their clever, minimal brand of comedy.

After more than a decade on the circuit they have appeared on the David Letterman Show, Broadway and regularly play to packed houses around the world (they are particularly popular in Sweden).

"Being silly for a living we gave it six months but that was 17 years ago, I guess it's like that old joke `the doctor gave me six months to live, I didn't pay the bill so he gave me another six months'," laughs Dundas.

Utilising just a stage, a microphone and the occasional prop (there is a potty-mouthed puppet who appears at one point), their shows are based around a broad grasp of physical comedy.

Dundas, the bald one, exercises a gargantuan range of vocal sound effects while David Collins spends most of the time miming to them. It's a juvenile performance, enhanced by their cliched Charlie Chaplin outfits, but somehow it works they manage to transcend the instinct to roll your eyes and gag with cynicism and they get the audience to engage with the show's fun, imaginative, idiotic side.

Dundas and Collins met while they were at acting school in Sydney. It was an instant connection, in more ways than one during a jazz dance class, Collins accidentally roundhouse-kicked Dundas in the face.

"He did a fantastic flying leaping kick into my nose and drove it to the other side of my face. We were intending to become serious actors and then something went seriously wrong. We undid each other's acting plans. Actually it is acting, but it's acting that you hopefully won't notice because we're all having a good time, the effect is we're playing a game with the audience, the audience is in on the game."

They like to describe their comedy as structured idiocy. It's family friendly up to a point. "I think it's really a kids' show for grown-ups, that kids can go to if they're fairly liberal-minded," explains Dundas.

After appearing briefly during the Comedy Festival here earlier this year, the Umbilical Brothers are finally heading to New Zealand for a nationwide tour of their popular Don't Explain performance.

They're not over the hill yet, but judging by the way Dundas is talking, it might be our last chance to see them.

"I don't know how much longer our bodies will hold up in terms of what we do. We're doing OK so far but it doesn't get any easier, it gets a little more achy!"

We have 12 double passes to give away for The Umbilical Brothers. Email escape@star-times.co.nz with "Umbilical Brothers" in the subject line, stating where you'd like to see them. Winners will be notified by email and will collect tickets from the box office.

The Umbilical Brothers Don't Explain tour: September 15, Wellington Opera House, Wellington; September 17, Marlborough Theatre, Blenheim; September 18, James Hay Theatre, Christchurch; September 19, Memorial Hall, Queenstown; September 20, Civic Theatre, Invercargill; September 21, Regent Theatre, Dunedin; September 23, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland; September 24, Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga; September 25, Civic Theatre, Rotorua; September 26, Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton; September 27, Theatre Royal, New Plymouth; September 28, Opera House, Wanganui.

- © Fairfax NZ News