Ivy League Blog

Abovebelly more like…

February 17th, 2009

Channel Nines’ record breaking drama, “Underbelly 2” is, quite rightfully the most talked about local television production ever – with the possible exception of “Chances” . After missing the first episode, I had the great pleasure last night of seeing what all the fuss was about. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed, and can only concur with all of the positive reviews that have been appearing in the papers, online , and around water coolers all over the country.

The performances are probably the best we’ve seen of this type on Australian television. The two main characters are acting out of their skins for the full hour we are treated to them. I’m not sure what’s been going on in at NIDA over the past few years, but they are getting the balance just right, and if these are the kinds of graduates they’re turning out on a regular basis, I say that Australian acting is in good hands. It’s not easy to carry an entire show like this on your own. As a young thespian, it’s all about ups and downs, and if ever there was an illustration of this, it’s on this show. It’s hard to imagine having to front up in front of the cameras for take after take, when you know how much promotion, money and expectation are riding on your performance. Network heads, critics, people who saw the first series and loved it – they’re all watching you, naked in front of the camera, waiting for you to fail, looking for a moment of weakness, waiting for you to deflate or lose some of the bounce that got you the role in the first place. I am very happy to say that none of these things occurred in last night’s episode.

I think my only criticism – and it’s a minor quibble – would be that, at times there is a tendency from the producers to lazily go for the lowest common denominator by constantly attempting to get a storyline, or some dialogue in there. I can understand that sometimes these devices are necessary to put the constant exposure of the female leads’ breasts in context, but really, this is some of the strongest “breast acting” we are ever likely to see. To constantly cut away to some dialogue between two minor characters, or to waste film with a wide location shot treats the viewer as a bit of an idiot frankly. Anybody with half a brain knows that people tune in each week to watch up and coming actress Anna Hutchisons’ breasts’ brilliant portrayal of Kiwi drug courier Allison Dine’s breasts. It is within these two strong, silent, but active characters that the real intrigue lies. There were honestly times last night when I had to do a double take and remind myself that this was NOT documentary footage. How the Hutchison mammaries came to inhabit the character of the Dine boobs so completely is a tribute to their commitment to their craft(s).

It’s only fair to mention Matthew Newton’s (playing Terry Clark) unselfish role in all of this. He makes sure that these magnificent mammarial thespians are given their due by never blocking their perky performance, and gives them plenty of space in which to perform. It is an unselfish act on the part of an unselfish actor, who is clearly committed only to making the best show possible, without regard to his own ego.

Apparently Kate Ritchie makes her debut in next week’s episode. One can only hope that she is serious about shaking off the frigidity of her Home and Away character, Sally, and sees this as an opportunity to expose her bosoms as much as possible. It’s no less than the public, and Kate’s breasts deserve, straight-jacketed as they were for all those years in a family friendly drama. And let’s hope that the producers get the message – just because the show airs in the post- 8.30pm timeslot, it should not be seen as an open invitation to get as much dialogue, plot or narrative arc on television just because you can. From Scobie Malone through Alvin Purple to Number 96, Australia has a proud tradition of breast acting, strong enough to stand up its own without the unnecessary intrusion of other unnecessary entertainments.

Andy Kelly

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