The Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS) do not intend to offend their audience members, they just do not care if that is the reaction they get.
It is a premise that has worked successfully with their shows for decades and Tim Ferguson said the latest offering is no different.
He called Wagga the group’s “spiritual home” and said they had performed many great shows here before.
The trio, consisting of Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and Paul ‘Flacco’ Livingston, have been touring their latest show since March and Tim said it was a privilege to perform with no inhibitions.
“We’ve been having a great time, it’s great to be on the road with such funny guys,” he said.
“We allow ourselves complete freedom.
“With the All Stars, there is no convention.
“It’s important to us that we don’t make the audience feel comfortable.
“It’s great fun and nothing else would work.”
Tim grew up in the country and understands that most people in regional centres want to be entertained and let off some steam.
He said it is their jobs as comedians to help people alleviate the stresses associated with their daily lives.
“There’s a lot of stress living in the bush,” he said.
“City people assume because it’s pretty on the outside, it’s alright on the inside … but there’s a lot of things that happen in the bust that city people don’t have to worry about.
“It’s important for comedians to help people find a way to cope with those stresses.”
Tim has been open about his battle with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is now mostly confined to a wheelchair because of his condition.
As a reaction to people’s awkward silences and bumbling over the right thing to say, Tim deals with his illness through comedy.
“One part of the brain that MS can’t affect is willpower,” he said.
“I’m in a wheelchair so MS opened a whole new range of topics, including a theme of disability.
“The practical choice was to make fun of MS.
“When people are nervous, a lot of the time that’s when we laugh.”
DAAS revolutionised comedy by bombarding audiences with their winning formula – songs, sex, violence, feminism and sex.
They broke the mold by taking comedy into rock venues and have toured the globe.
The Doug Anthony All Stars will perform in Wagga on June 19.
Contact the Civic Theatre on 6926 9688 for tickets and more information.
