Review: Samuel Johnson as a jolly good Molly

By Michael Idato
Updated February 13 2016 - 1:18am, first published 12:00am
Natural mimic Samuel Johnson is truly diverting as Molly Meldrum. Photo: Seven
Natural mimic Samuel Johnson is truly diverting as Molly Meldrum. Photo: Seven

The retro pop-culture drama – a curious post-modern melange of old music, new writing and great promos – seems to be a uniquely Australian thing. Since the brilliant John Edwards dropped Paper Giants, a glorious spin on the birth of the women's magazine Cleo, played at double revs with just the right touch of pathos and served with extra Asher Keddie™, we've been hit with an avalanche of turn-back-the-clock, crank-up-the-music miniseries and telemovies.