Review - Gordon Southern

Gordon Southern is a honest hard working comedian and he had to draw on all of his experience tonight to a disappointingly small crowd in an embarrassingly small and awkward room. The room is not really a room at all – it is really the space between rooms. He extracts every available laugh as is evident by his liquid laugh-barometer (I won’t explain this now – go to the show and see what I mean for yourself)

He deserves more (room and audience).

He encourages the audience to join him on this comedic journey and they willingly oblige. He generates man jokes about the “unique” characteristics of the venue.

His prepared material is strong including clever word play and the occasional pun, all of which is punctuated by pre-recorded musical stings. His best material is when eh ventures off script to just talk with the intimate gathering seated before him.

Audiences will not be disappointed with the performance. In a small gathering the audience have to give a little to the performer to help generate some atmosphere. It is only fair because Gordon is giving his all. http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/gordon-southern-free-range

Another show where the performer promises to work hard is http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Lawrence Mooney

Lawrence Mooney delivers a master class in stand-up comedy. An Indecisive Bag of Donuts is sixty minutes of perfectly timed delivery and sublime use of physical comedy. It should not be possible for a performer to obtain as many laughs from simply raising an eyebrow.

The woman in front of me was gasping for air for the entirety of the show and at one point almost fell off her chair from laughing so much.

The show does nothing to break the stereo-type of comedians being lazy, only working for one hour a day. In fact Lawrence embraces the theme in this esoterical show which is all about a comedian writing a show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Lawrence is a procrastinator so this show is less about the writing of a show and more about how he busies himself to avoid writing a show.

Lawrence shops, goes to the park, cleans…and eats donuts, to fill in his day. If he is this funny he is without putting in the effort to write a show, I for one am scared about how many belly laughs he could extract if he did the preparation. A must see show in 2011. http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/lawrence-mooney-in-an-indecisive-bag-of-donuts

Another show I would recommend in 2011 is http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Adam Rozenbachs

Adam Rozenbachs is perhaps best known for being one of Australia’s “unknown” comic writers. His bio boasts credits with some of Australia’s biggest television shows: Spicks and Specks, Before The Game, Skithouse. His voice may be more known as a regular on ABC radio Melbourne and Nova.

In person and live on stage, Adam lives up to his reputation. The audience warms to him immediately, and it is not just the ever increasing temperature in the room (did they have the heaters on).

In Singledumber, Adam addresses the ups and downs of being single. He entwines his thoughts on a number of modern social mores. Adam engages with his audience, finding comedic gems even when the individuals with whom he spoke seemed determined to give him nothing.

Adam is reliable confident and in control. http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/adam-rozenbachs-in-singledumber

After seeing a stalwart of Australian comedy take a chance and support a new-comer http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Andrew O'Neill

Andrew did not live up to my expectations – and I could not be more pleased. Going to see a comedian billed as being a heavy-metal loving transvestite my head was filled with inaccurate stereo-types. Imagine my surprise when he was clearly intelligent, well read and articulate.

Andrew engaged effortlessly with the audience, the “Metal” versus “Punk” debate was a spontaneous highlight and clearly demonstrated Andrew’s quick wit and confidence. The ending is another highlight ensuring the audience leave on a high, buzzing about the show.

His show posters are misleading, he is not as dark, extreme or confrontational as he thinks, however he is entertaining, affable and funny.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/andrew-o-neill-out-of-step

Another show that will contain a few surprises http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Pajama Men

Two men wearing pajamas with only two wicker chairs as props should be able to be so clever, entertaining and laugh out loud funny. The sho starts with the guys running a pregnant woman, in labour through the corridors of a maternity ward and they maintain the frantic pace for the next 75minutes.

In this opening sequence the two of them play the doctors, the expectant mother and father, the baby and a group of 9 lazy nurses. Sometimes the changes between multiple character occurs across a single line of dialogue. Throughout the show they also introduce a vast array of characters including brilliantly simple aliens.

Pajama Men perform a fabulously scripted and multifaceted show, clearly proving their Barry Award winning show in 2009 was no fluke. They know what makes their show funny and milk every possible laugh out of the dialogue, every character’s voice and facial expression and nuance of movement.

A uniquely physical comedy, you will not see another show quite like this at this year’s festival.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/the-pajama-men-in-the-middle-of-no-one

For a show with a unique blend of music stand up and multimedia presentations go and see http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Granny Flaps

Granny Flaps is crude, lewd and rude and the audience would not have her any other way! We are raised to believe that senior citizens is disgusting, Ms Flaps also proves that it can be bloody funny. The content is graphic and obscene but never offensive.

The mixed aged audience laughed loudly from beginning to end.

Granny Flaps is a character enacted by Adelaide-based comedian, Lori Bell. She holds character brilliantly throughout the show in voice and mannerisms. Whether interacting with the audience, delivering well timed stand up or performing songs – that may sound familiar (but do not sing along) – Granny Flaps is a strong, consistent and highly entertaining performer.

With only a couple of shows left be sure to check out Granny Flaps while you can. http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/granny-flaps-opens-up

Another comedian original from Adelaide performing a music comedy show this festival http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Mark Watson

Mark freely admits that he is a comedian that uses a lot of words, and he is correct He uses a lot of words, thankfully to great comedic affect, which he explains “it means audiences get value for money.”

While Mark will make comment about late comers – he kind of has to as the door is at the front of the room meaning audience members must walk across the front of the stage to get to their seats – the real reason to be on time is to ensure you do not miss out on any of the jokes.

Like the extras on a DVD, Mark starts spinning his rambling and often improvised humour well before the show actually starts. He creates his own directors cut before the [early] audience members eyes.

Mark appears to be introverted and apologetic, almost awkward but he uses this to his advantage. He engages and interacts effortlessly with the audience, his style ensure everyone feels as though they are in on the joke. In the end Mark loosely concoct a moral in an attempt to bring seemingly unrelated stories together - stories that he has seamlessly segued between throughout the evening. No moral or coherent story is necessary. When you are this good, being funny for funny’s sake is more than enough.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/mark-watson

If you do want a show with a theme or common story thread then why not see http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Denise Scott

Denise Scott is arguably the queen of Australian comedy. The show opens with Scotty as she calls herself, telling –in her own inimitable style of bumbling self deprecation – of the untimely death of three of her relatives. As she reaches her late 50s she is reflecting on her past which creates an unusual explanation for the title of her show

Her show is all about regrets. Denise tells stories from her past full of regrets – regrets of past actions and of opportunities missed. Denise interacts with the audience throughout her show with consummate ease. At one point she enters the audience asking them of their regrets from past romantic conquests all to great hilarity.

I wish my mum was as engaging and amusing when she told everyone embarrassing stories from her past.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/denise-scott-regrets

Here is another show you will regret if you miss it http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Danny McGinlay

This is the perfect show for Melbourne, Australia’s café capital. It is all about food. Danny presents a unique combination of live cooking, science, video recordings and stand up to get solid laughs. The show is an amalgam of Man Versus Wild, Master Chef and Myth Busters.

In addition to the gags audience members are invited to taste a few of Danny’s culinary creations. He does not worry about “plating up” or getting the right balance of textures, flavours and colours. Danny is a thinker his meals are about solving dietary problems and having fun.

Danny’s grandfather used to tell him that cooking is a game and you can’t win every time. This show is a winner. It is great to see performers doing more than just straight stand up.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/danny-mcginlay-food-dude-recipes-for-disaster.

Another show that is more than straight stand up, which includes international cuisine http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Nick Cody

Nick Cody is the comedian everyone thinks they are when regaling their friends of stories over a couple of cold ones down at the pub. Cody is warm and engages with the audience as he presents a potted history of his dating life.

The stories are clever, sometimes cringey, but always funny. The humour often comes from Nick’s stories of romance that quickly reminds the audience of their own lives. The cringe moments often comes from Nick’s stories of romance that quickly reminds the audience of their own lives.

Cody is hampered by the ambient noise that fills his room from performers occupying other spaces in the venue and the general public milling around drinking and telling their own romance stories, all the while wishing they were as funny as Nick Cody.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/nick-cody-it-s-not-you-it-s-her

After a show about dating, see a show about travel http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer

Review - Andrew McClelland

This show is full of potentially confusing contradictions. Firstly it does not contain any jokes – no set ups, no punch lines. Instead Andrew delivers a poetic and verbose monologue, in which he demonstrates his command of the English language and his extensive vocabulary.

He speaks in 3^rd person and yet still manages to engage directly with the audience. The anecdotes contain their own anecdotes, creating a complex Sara-Lee* narrative (*later upon layer). At one point there were so many layers that it made Inception comparatively two-dimensional.

The contradictions are deep seated in Andrew himself, having mastered the art of being pompous and humble at the same time which endears him to his audience and brings many of the laughs. This show is a grower, with the laughs starting as gentle chuckles and building throughout the show to an ongoing crescendo of belly laughs.

The person siting next to me got the stitch, two others had to use the toilet for fear of wetting themselves and another sprayed his drink as a result of the hilarity of this performance.

A highly intelligent performance that that you do not need to be a Rhodes Scholar to enjoy. I can neither confirm nor deny if the anecdotes included in this show are true.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/andrew-mcclelland-truth-be-told

All the anecdotes in this show are 100% true...http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/shows/darren-freak-freakuent-flyer