After four incredible incarnations of the simian serial, Chimp Cop is leaving the station once and for all. Comedic four-piece Ben Vernel, Timothy Clark, Adam Knox and Rosie Vernel are handing in their badges and heading out into the world with The Very Best Of Chimp Cop (All New Material).
While past shows have seen long-form narrative sketch from the quartet, this year flips the script and allows the performers to tackle a plethora of new scenes and ideas. Clark says at the top of the show that this is a refreshing and far easier gig than adding a fifth chapter to the Chimp Cop story, and honestly, who can blame them? The law-abiding primate shtick surely has a limited shelf life, and the group have opted to leave the primate world on a high, while still offering their unique blend of silly set-ups and primo pay-offs.
While the show has some definite highs – the opening skit lampooning ‘90s underdog sports films an early contender for sketch of the night – the entire thing feels a little rough around the edges. The fourth wall breaks are copious and somewhat tiring after a while, but for the most part, the show remains an excellent reminder of what this group can do. They’re certainly not a one-trick monkey.
The Very Best Of Chimp Cop (All New Material) may not be the strongest contender in the canon, but it acts as a vital turning point in the troupe's development. It allows newcomers to step into the world of the Aus sketch quartet, and lets the group stretch their comedic muscles beyond their trademark procedural parody. Chimp Cop newbies will get to dip their toes in the water for the first time, and diehard fans will find plenty to like about the new direction.
