Los Trios Ringbarkus was an Australian stand up comedy duo prominent in the 1980s, comprising Neill Gladwin (b. 1961) and Steve Kearney (b. 1961).
Live act
Both members were born in Melbourne, Gladwin in Essendon and Kearney in Burwood.Bill Mellor, 'Odds-on favourites' Sydney Sun-Herald 4 September 1983 p. 28 They attended Rusden State College, studying to be drama teachers: at a party, Kearney broke an egg on Gladwin's head, and the two men recognised a common sense of humour.Peter Weiniger 'It began with a yolk' Melbourne Age Saturday Extra section, 11 June 1983 p. 13 Their name was, of course, a joke; they were always a duo, though early in their career they would refer to a former third member who 'went back to his accountancy business'Carolyn Parfitt 'They're an odd pair for a trio, and the jokes never stop' Sydney Morning Herald 18 February 1981 p. 12 or who 'got so small he disappeared and became an accountant and lives in Geelong.'Carolyn Parfitt 'Two Man Trio on the Way' Sunday Sun-Herald 19 February 1981 p. 15
The duo often referred to themselves as 'anti-tainment'.Bill Mellor, 'Odds-on favourites' Sydney Sun-Herald 4 September 1983 p. 28 Their act would often begin with them appearing to stumble onto stage by accident; 'staring out at the audience in sheer terror,' as one witness described it, 'whimpering in agony, stumbling across the stage entangled in microphone leads unable to speak as they gag on throats dry with fear.'Peter Weiniger 'Bright locals have the last laugh', Melbourne Age 12 April 1982 p. 6 During their show Gladwin would often play what one journalist described in 1982 as 'punk-rock accordion', accompanied by Kearney on guitar.Anthony Clarke 'Making an Impact, nervously' Melbourne Age 8 April 1982 p. 10 Their comedic approach has been typified as undergoing two main phases: confrontational and deliberately offensive humour gave way in the mid-80s to much more considered slapstick comparable to silent film comedy of the early 20th century. However, both styles coexisted, and their interest in physical comedy is evident from an early publicity campaign whereby they offered themselves as expert pie-throwers. Members of the public could 'Hire a pie in the eye' for $10. Gladwin and Kearney demonstrated their skill by throwing a pie at Joe Dolce on the pop TV show Countdown. They claimed to the press that they were available to throw a pie at Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser for $1000 and whatever legal costs would ensue.'Hire a Pie in the Eye', Melbourne Age, Weekender section, 2 January 1981 Weekender p. 8
Both men appeared in Geoff Hooke's production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (abbreviated to Mahoganny) at the Contemporary Performance Centre, located in the Hawthorn Congregational Church, in late 1981.Leonard Radic, 'Assaulting eardrums' Melbourne Age 30 November 1981 p. 10 This was the only 'serious' theatre they appeared in under the Los Trios Ringbarkus name, and the only production they did not write themselves. An unsuccessful attempt was made by the Playbox Theatre Company to mount a production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot some years later in which they were to be featured cast members alongside either Frank ThringMike Daly 'The importance of being Frank and Earnest' Melbourne Age 13 December 1988 p. 14 or Warren Mitchell.Bob Evans, 'Mitchell and Son' Sydney Morning Herald 16 July 1988 p. 79
As Los Trios Ringbarkus they performed a range of highly successful comedy shows. In late 1981, critic Peter Weiniger wrote:'Tough, zany, threatening, but always highly original their humour almost defies definition with a range that stretches from sheery [sic] anarchy to carefully controlled mayhem.'Peter Weiniger, 'Cabaret' Melbourne Age 19 December 1981 p. 19 For months later, the same critic lauded them as authors of 'silent comedy in the finest traditions of the Mack Sennett comedies and Laurel and Hardy.'Peter Weiniger 'Bright locals have the last laugh', Melbourne Age 12 April 1982 p. 6 In August 1982, at the opening of a season at the Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant, Kearney broke his leg on stage.Peter Weiniger 'It began with a yolk' Melbourne Age Saturday Extra section, 11 June 1983 p. 13 The incident necessitated rescheduling of the show, which opened an opportunity for the comedian Mark Little. Little would later appear in the short film Tennis Elbow with the duo.
In 1983, Los Trios Ringbarkus were showing themselves to be adaptable the mainstream media in Australia; they appeared, for instance, on Hey Hey It's Saturday. They also debuted at the Edinburgh Festival, in the Assembly Room.'Sounds of Los Trios' Age Weekender section 3 June 1983 p. 2 Here they were to be winners of the Perrier Comedy Award for Best Comedy, the first Australian comedians to win this award.Bill Mellor, 'Odds-on favourites' Sydney Sun-Herald 4 September 1983 p. 28 Gladwin later mused:
The English Press were horrified that we had no jokes or scripts and no satire and no wit. Then a review in London loved the fact that we were working against all forms of comedy which they're used to… Melbourne has real characters like the Whittles who are a send-up. It's sort of cutting and it rides the edges of the people in the audience.Peter Wilmoth, 'What makes us Laugh' Melbourne Age Saturday Extra section 24 December 1983 p. 1, p. 4
To this, Kearney added: 'Because they're so deeply rooted in the Pythons and Goons tradition... there are John Cleese clones doing shows all over the place. We were seen as new and exciting and above all refreshing.'Peter Wilmoth, 'What makes us Laugh' Melbourne Age Saturday Extra section 24 December 1983 p. 1, p. 4 The Perrier award led to increased coverage in the mainstream media, including an appearance on The Don Lane Show.'A Critical Guide to Today's Programs' Melbourne Age 22 September 1983 p. 2
In early 1984, Kearney undertook some acting work on his own, playing Monk O'Neil in a revival of Jack Hibberd's one-man play A Stretch of the Imagination, directed by Lois Ellis.Anthony Clarke, '"Stretch" sole local effort' Melbourne Age 20 March 1984 p. 14
Between 1984-5 Los Trios Ringbarkus released three records on the White Label: two singles, "Cooking in the Kitchen" for which they made a video, and "Mirror, Mirror" as well as a mini-album, Sorry 'Bout the Record Record, most of which was recorded live.
At the end of 1984 they launched what was to become their longest-lasting and most successful show, Outer Sink, an 'Epic Rock Comedy Odyssey Performance Art Dance, Theatre-in-Education Sort of Thing'. It was 'designed' and directed by Nigel Triffitt.Richard Glover, 'Los Trios is a two-man riot' Sydney Morning Herald 8 January 1985 p. 8 The show travelled around Australia and internationally. They appeared at the Adelaide Festival, then returned to the Edinburgh FestivalIrina Dunn, 'Oz comedians a hit at the Edinburgh lunatic fringe' SMH 19 August 1985 p. 12 as well as appearing in New York and travelling across Canada.Neill Gladwin, 'Los in New York' Melbourne Age 15 November 1985 p. 35 The duo's success at Edinburgh in particular had raised expectations for other Australian (particularly Melbourne) acts at that event: Gladwin observed that 'This year it was possible to travel to Edinburgh and meet just about all the people you work with in Australia.'Neill Gladwin, 'Los in New York' Melbourne Age 15 November 1985 p. 35
Outer Sink was also performed at the 1986 Montreal International Mime Festival 'Australian mime duo makes a big bang in Montreal'Regina (Saskatchewan) Leader-Post 29 May 1986 Entertainment section, p. C9 and another show, Rampant Stupidity was successful in North America the following year.Lloyd Dykk, 'A couple of fools to suffer gladly' Vancouver Sun 25 February 1987 p. 24 In January 1988 they also performed at the London International Mime Festival.'The Friday Preview' London Guardian 8 January 1988 p. 18
On screen
Given the references to silent film comedy made in much of their performance, as well as their increasing popularity, it seemed like a natural next step for Los Trios Ringbarkus to go into film or television. In February 1983, the Melbourne Age dropped a hint that the duo were making a film (for which they ostensibly required ten blowflies). This is most likely to have been Tennis Elbow, directed by John Thomson and starring Gladwin and Kearney alongside Lance Curtis, Elsa Davies, Geoff Kelso, Mark Little, Sai McEnna, David Swann, and featuring 'The St Kilda Esplanade, a galvanised barbecue, Homicide, a tennis match and a toilet joke.'Karen Cooke, 'The Way They Were…' Melbourne Age Weekender section 18 November 1983 p. 5 The film is a loosely-linked series of sketches based primarily around a tennis match in which a sophisticated playboy repeatedly hits the ball an unfeasibly long distance, and his opponent enthusiastically, and improbably, is able to return it each time through superhuman effort. In doing so he engages with (or the camera simply turns to) bizarre and unusual situations. The film, made at Swinburne Institute of Technology film school, was shown as a featured attraction at the comedy venue Le Joke in March 1984.Melbourne Age Weekender section, 2 March 1984 p. 20
Amazing Scenes was a 1980 documentary film about Australian fringe theatre, directed by Karl McPhee, narrated by Spike Milligan, and produced by Film Australia. The film featured Los Trios Ringbarkus along with David Argue, Circus Oz, Wimmins Circus, Clowneroonies (featuring Geoffrey Rush), Reg Livermore Alan Pentland, Rod Quantock, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Cappriccios, Kirribilli Pub Theatre, Sideshow, and Lobotomy Brothers. The DVD is available from the NFSA.
In the mid-1980s Los Trios Ringbarkus approached Nadia Tass and David Parker, who had recently had major success with their film Malcolm, with ideas for a Los Trios Ringbarkus film. Instead, Tass and Parker were inspired to cast Kearney alone in their next film, Rikky and Pete.Janet Hawley 'Slide show alley leads to Tinsel Town' Sydney Morning Herald 25 July 1987 p. 48
The 1989 television variety series The Beach Boys: Endless Summer included apparently specially-filmed Los Trios Ringbarkus material as incidental comedy spots. The duo do not seem to have been featured players, although the act's name was included in programming schedules.For instance episode 3 as described in 'Tonight's Movie and Program Highlights', Miami Herald 3 July 1989 p. 25
Garbo, and the duo's demise
Gladwin and Kearney relocated to Los Angeles in 1987 with ambitions to make films in Hollywood.Mike Daly, 'Local film got its start in LA' Melbourne Age, 27 November 1990 p. 16 In the mid-1980s, Kearney later stated, they had simultaneous deals with United Artists and Columbia Pictures. He claimed, 'we would waltz into town and take over. "We rule! We rock!" the heads of the studios were bringing all their big stars along to see us. But we didn't really appreciate it. We had no idea."Gary Maddox 'How to not make it in Hollywood' Sydney Morning Herald 19 July 2001, p. 12