AustLit

'A smart, satirical and deliciously silly follow-up to Shaun Micallef’s award-winning Tales from a Tall Forest.

'The Queen of Tancred and her royal retinue are on a mission: to ensure all the citizens of Tancred are happy. But that's a lot harder than it sounds - especially when the Happiness Tour accidentally stumbles into the neighbouring region of Hamelin. Oops. Soon, Queen Mathilde smells a rat. A whole kingdom of them, in fact … because Hamelin has been overrun with rodents. Why is a rat on the throne? Where are all of Hamelin's children?

'And what is happiness anyway? The answers - presented in Micallef's signature fairytale-twisting style - will surprise you!' (Publication summary)

'Bestselling writer Ben Elton is the author of several novels, including his most recent book Identity Crisis. In this live recording of our event, Elton talks to Shaun Micallef about his new comic satire.'  (Production summary)

'The only other thing my wife and I had ever before attempted to paint was a single paling on our then newly built front fence. It had taken almost an hour to do what we did of it and as there were another 20 or so to do afterwards, we worked out that we couldn't possibly finish by tea-time and so paid a professional to do it instead. He insisted on cash so I have no record of his name, but judging from what he charged and the result I assume it was either Paul Klee or Kandisky. We had resolved though to stick with it this time and complete the little cupboard in the backroom ourselves. It wasn't just the extortionate sum of money we'd otherwise have to part with - it was a matter of pride...' (Publication abstract)

'Many years ago—back in the nineties—my agent rang me to say that a multimillionaire was throwing himself a birthday party and wanted me to perform at it. The party was to be held over a weekend on his private island and I was to be flown there in a private plane. It all sounded very intriguing and the fee was enormous. Apparently whoever it was had seen me on my ABC show and liked it; the only problem though was that I couldn't find out who the multimillionaire was until I agreed to do the gig and signed a confidentiality agree-ment. My agent wasn't being coy; she was dealing with an intermediary and that was the deal. Visions of being hunted for sport by the BRW Rich List or a Dr Moreau type turning me into some sort of animal flashed through my head and so I turned the offer down. The truth was I didn't have a stand-up act anyway and found the whole idea of performing in what was effectively someone's lounge room a bit demeaning. Still, I always wondered who this mystery fan was.' (Introduction) 
 

'Shaun Micallef is without doubt Australia’s premier comedian, writer, producer, presenter, actor, author, broadcaster, bon vivant, gadfly, troubadour, dancer, impresario, acrobat, lion tamer, poet and elite sportsman. But did you know that he is also an internationally renowned playwright? No? Typical. It really is a stain on our national character that this doyen of theatre doesn’t get the credit he deserves or attention he craves in this country – mute testimony to Australia’s cultural cringe and inveterate idiocy. From Broadway to the West End, his name is mentioned in the same breath as Mamet and Ray Cooney; and in the salons of Paris Micallef is worshipped as a god.

'His plays, uncollected until now, are irrefutable proof that when it comes to listing the world’s greatest dramatists, the name Micallef should be inserted in there somewhere. Even if you have never been to the theatre before, just holding this book in your hands as you are now will change your life forever. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, your body will spasm convulsively – you may even be so moved that you will open the book and read it.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'I was marvelling at a tree the other day. What a splendid thing it is in and of itself, I mused. Quite pleasing to the eye and functional. It can make oxygen, provide shade, be lived in by birds and insects, bear fruit, be scampered tip by possums, hung off by bats and it holds the soil together so it doesn't blow away. It doesn't take much to run them either, a bit of water and some nutrients; otherwise, completely solar powered. Now, I can't make a tree but I can make sense of one. I understand how a tree works from books and Wikipedia but that does not, in any way, make me marvel at it less. In fact, it's even more impressive that it does what it does and is what it is, given how complicated the operation is.'  

'When an innocent princess wanders into the forest, she finds herself trapped between a wolf with a ravenous appetite and a sweet little house with a secret. Meanwhile, a desperate fisherman enters into a very bad bargain with a power-hungry monkey. And meanerwhile still, a tiny tricksy tailor promises a promise that not even the most magic of beanstalks can help him escape.

'In this rich and rambunctious tapestry of tales, satirist Shaun Micallef unravels the traditional fairy story and nimbly weaves your favourite characters into new and surprising adventures. Illustrated by award-winning artist Jonathan Bentley, this subversively silly trilogy will captivate parents and children alike – and indignant fairytale authors too. ' (Synopsis)

Comedy series centred on a former prime minister.

'Built from the hull of the British HMS Resolute, as a gift from Queen Victoria, The President's desk - aka the Resolute Desk - has occupied the Oval Office of the White House for some time now. Since 1880 it has seen much action from the Presidents who have sat behind it and made historical, worldchanging decisions. Now Shaun Micallef takes us inside the Oval Office, and, in a highly entertaining romp through American history, introduces us to the men who have sat at the desk.

'Micallef's exploration of the widely varying personalities and traits of America's presidents, paints a wonderfully alternative history of the US through an outrageous, absurdist re-imagining of their lives. Readers will delight in The President's Desk and it's enormous number of references to real people, places, events and culture embedded in the text amongst Shaun's very entertaining comic storytelling style. As Shaun says "The President's Desk is a history of America for people who can't be bothered with accuracy". ' (Publication summary)

'It's A Date is a comedy series exploring the trials and tribulations of the world of dating. The eight-part narrative comedy series features an extraordinary mix of Australia's most respected performers including Gold Logie award-winners Asher Keddie, Kate Ritchie, John Wood and Lisa McCune alongside stars of the stage and screen Stephen Curry, Sibylla Budd, Shane Jacobson, Sophie Lowe, Nadine Garner, Pia Miranda, Peter Helliar, Lawrence Mooney, Ian Smith, and from the UK, comedy superstar Ross Noble in a rare TV acting role. Alongside these seasoned performers are some of Australia's best emerging comedy talents including Jess Harris, Ronny Chieng, Kate McLennan, Luke McGregor and Nazeem Hussain.

'It's A Date explores the tension, expectation and complication of finding true love. Each episode thematically links two self-contained dates as they bravely head toward desire or disaster.

'Each new episode features a different cast tackling a different set of situations and addressing a new question

each week. Should you have sex on a first date? Does age matter? How accurate are first impressions? How important is honesty on a first date? These are just some of the questions and issues addressed in series one of It's A Date.' (Source: ABC 1 website)