Puppets' regime

The boys have certainly had their knockers (a fact which they like to emphasise), but there is no doubt that as an improvisational live act, they have few peers. But what can we expect from their show? Will interaction with the audience feature heavily?

“Well, we should probably warn people not to sit in the first five rows,” says Podge, down the line from Ballydung Manor. “We’ll be taking people out of the audience for various reasons. The hint is in the title of the show, Desperate For Housewives. We’re on the lookout for a couple of wives – we’re sick of the bachelor festivals.”
Will the lads have any special guests at the show?
“We’re trying to coax Blathnaid Ní Chofaigh to come down and join us,” explains Rodge. “She’s a red-haired, fiery vixen, and the only reason to watch afternoon television.”
What are the duo’s views on Cork generally?
“We’re from Ballydung, right, which is in the middle of the midlands,” says Podge, “so we do have an affinity with the country people, more so than those in Dublin. We did 26 nights in the Vicar Street, looking for a housewife. Did we find one? No. So we’re sort of spreading our seed a little wider, and hopefully there’ll be a few Cork cailíns desperate enough to do the filthy thing on our poles.”
What do they make of the other acts on the bill? Are they looking forward to seeing Elton John?
“Oh God no,” replies Podge. “We do want to see 50 Cent though.”
“Wait a minute,” adds Rodge, sounding even more disturbed than usual. “Is Elton John in front of us or behind us? Check the listings will ye, cos that’s very important.”
I would imagine that Slayer get the occasional spin on the vinyl player at Ballydung Manor.
“Well, we do appreciate fellas who worship Satan,” enthuses Podge. “They’re standing by it and you’ve got to admire that level of commitment.”
A notable guest Podge and Rodge had at Ballydung Manor recently was The West Wing’s Richard Schiff, who, the boys acknowledge, was the closest they’ve come yet to having a proper celebrity on the show.
“He’s a real actor now, not like anyone we’d have in Ireland,” says Rodge. “We got him over because we thought that he might be able to teach the people from Fair City a few things, but obviously they’ve gone so far down the wrong path that I don’t think even he could help them. He was in London, so they rang up him and said, ‘Come on over’, and he said, ‘Sure I’m doing nothing better, I might as well.’ The offer of booze and golf tends to coax Americans over.”
What was the last gig the brothers went to?
“Margo O’Donnell,” says Podge. “She’s either Daniel’s mother or sister, nobody’s actually sure. We went all the way up to the Holyrood Hotel in Bundoran to see her. God, she’s a fine woman, she can belt them out.”
Did they ever make the pilgrimage to Daniel’s house to have tea with him?
“We’re sort of barred from Daniel’s,” responds Rodge, circumspectly. “Margo puts up with us, but Daniel wouldn’t have anything to do with us.”
So there’s a degree of friction between the brothers and Daniel?
“Well, I think that’s what Daniel would want from it, to be honest with you,” answers Podge.
Did they see Guns n' Roses in the RDS last summer?
“What?!” cries Rodge, appalled. “That wouldn’t interest us at all. We certainly would appreciate the fellas who would live the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, and like a bit of the 50 Cent and so on. I mean, we like the sex part of rock ‘n’ roll, but not the actual music. Some of the bands, like the Kaiser Chefs, would be alright. But really we’re more into the showbands, Joe Dolan, Mud and Sweet. And the bit of Rory Gallagher.”
“Rory Gallagher now, where’s he?” asks Podge.
He’s no longer with us, sadly.
“He’s gone to England like the rest of them,” laments Podge. “It happens to all of them in the end, doesn’t it? They all go off.”
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