See approaches this from a broad historical perspective, but at times he singles out specific events, including elections where the percentage between final votes of two parties is always smaller than the percentage of people who chose not to vote. Understanding that he can't constantly tailor his content to each country he visits, it's still a shame that See doesn't really discuss Australian politics or reflect much on our voting system, where voting is compulsory. Given we're less than a month away from going to the polls, it seems like a missed opportunity to draw in an audience and offer an outsider’s perspective on our political landscape.
As mentioned earlier, See's show may focus on politics, but it isn't political. So rather than telling us who is a good leader or what party is the worst, he tells us how the terms "the left" and "the right" got their names, and the theory behind campaigns that are rooted in fear or hope. He navigates all his political wisdom in a highly accessible format, one that could intrigue even the most apathetic audience member.
See adds in some creativity by using an ice-cream poster to describe 12 political ideologies. He returns to his ice cream metaphor later in the show as an introduction to logical fallacies. While these are novel techniques, we're never actually told why that particular ice cream was paired with the ideology its allocated. As a visual element, it would have been more favourable to have the poster projected on a screen, allowing the audience to have a prolonged appreciation of the display. There are several points where visuals could have greatly supported See's material, especially when he's discussing individual campaigns, such as the "Daisy" ad, a 1964 US political commercial. He does however provide a QR code at the end of the performance where we can access everything that he's brought up.
See also explores the importance of empathy and why it’s critical to elections, and to understanding each other regardless of political inclinations. He humourously unpacks this with his own life experiences, which include the intense school bullying he endured, and confronting a friend about his professionalism and respect towards female comedians.
Ultimately, Government Approved Vote isn't a call to arms but a reminder that politics is more than politicians, than parties, than slogans that get stuck in your head. See delivers a well-researched and creative look on political history and strategy, and the human tendency to disengage. The show could’ve packed more punch by bringing in an Australian context, but it still makes a compelling case for empathy as the force that keeps democracy from collapsing under the weight of apathy.
Show Details
Venue: Chinese Museum, 22 Cohen Place, Melbourne
Season: until 20 April | Tues - Sat 6.30pm, Sun 5.30pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $28-$30 Full | $25 - $27 Concession | $23 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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