Space Force: Rocketing upwards
Stuck in a small and charismatically slow elevator, I am reminded that pokey venues and small crowds are at the heart of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival experience. A stranger who has decided to practice his own material on this unassuming audience in the cramped elevator, reveals that not only was Tom Gleeson better before he ‘sold out’, but that he had discovered him on … Continue reading Space Force: Rocketing upwards
Nath Valvo: Face-Achingly Funny
Remarking that a comedian is ‘likeable’ might sound like a backhanded compliment. In actuality, I think it is something many comedians find difficult to achieve – even when they’re funny, they’re so often plagued by a sense of arrogance, of finding themselves funnier than anyone in the audience, or just being plain annoying. So do not misunderstand me when I say that one of the … Continue reading Nath Valvo: Face-Achingly Funny
Fringe Wives Club: A Cabaret for Cow People
Glittering jumpsuits, sequinned jackets and one particularly notable beaded skort are what catch my eye as I walk into the Beckett Theatre of the Malthouse. The costumes give me an insight into the kind of performance that is to come; a playful, energetic and interactive night of feminist cabaret. Of course, my friend and I sit in the front row, for what’s the point of … Continue reading Fringe Wives Club: A Cabaret for Cow People
DeAnne Smith: is Not a Nice Lady (F That!)
“For those of you who haven’t seen me before, rest assured, I am very good at comedy.” It’s a bold opening to a stand-up set, but for DeAnne Smith, not an untrue one. Epiphany is Smith’s most recent show after the success of her acclaimed Netflix special Gentleman Elf (devastatingly unavailable in Australia). The Canadian-American is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival either; … Continue reading DeAnne Smith: is Not a Nice Lady (F That!)
Robot Song: Different = Awesome
Jolyon James’ Robot Song, presented by Theatre Works and Arena Theatre Company, follows 11-year old Juniper May from the moment she suffers a blow to her self esteem when her classmates write a letter, calling her a “freak”, a “robot”, and wishing she’d never been born. To cope with the slight, which causes her to skip school and stop eating, Juniper decides to write a musical with some … Continue reading Robot Song: Different = Awesome
Phil Wang: What you say is meaningless if what you do is monstrous
In 2019, we have seen more and more comedians beginning to use their platforms for more than just jokes. Stand up as a catalyst for social change, as a way of bringing public attention to an issue, as a device to subvert and surprise. In his Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Philly Philly Wang Wang, Phil Wang reminds us that these comedians are just people. … Continue reading Phil Wang: What you say is meaningless if what you do is monstrous
Felicity Ward: A solid set
After a successful run in the UK, Felicity Ward brings her hour-long set Busting a Nut to the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Across the hour, Ward delivers joke after joke, exploring topics as varied as her recent marriage, her in-laws, hot yoga, karaoke, and inspirational Instagram quotes. Ward broaches these topics in her typical, high-energy style, with her bold wardrobe (complete with leopard-print leggings) accentuating her bold … Continue reading Felicity Ward: A solid set
All I Want for Christmas is Revue: One of Australia’s Favourite Things
“We’re sold out tonight so please don’t leave any empty seats”, the long line of audience members are told as we line up on the stairs to get inside. This collection of The Melbourne University Law Revue alumni are playing at Campari House, a cosy venue on Hardware Lane. Well known for their successful alumni and high quality sketch, Law Revue putting on a show … Continue reading All I Want for Christmas is Revue: One of Australia’s Favourite Things
World Problems: A World of Problems
World Problems is a work written, created and performed by Emma Mary Hall. She is fresh from winning the Best Emerging Writer at Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2017 for Ode To Man, and her new piece promises to bring a similar poignancy and humour. A one woman show, the production explores themes of childhood, heartbreak and the future. The work is composed of small fragments, … Continue reading World Problems: A World of Problems
The Girl Green As Elderflower: Tropical Ghosts in Suffolk
Feverish nightmares, child ghosts, tropical maladies, and lively sing-alongs. These are just some of the ingredients that make up La Mama’s production of The Girl Green As Elderflower. Taking Randolph Stow’s novel of the same name as a departure point, Richard Davies transforms the text into a delirious, touching and vibrant musical, directed by Sara Grenfell. The story follows Cris (Billy Sloane), a young man who, after contracting … Continue reading The Girl Green As Elderflower: Tropical Ghosts in Suffolk
The Dialog 