If you’re currently in Melbourne, then you probably already know that the city has been invaded by an insurmountable number of funny humans also known as, comedians. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicked off on the 24th of May and ends on the 18th of April.
With well over 300 shows filled with international and local acts, the choice of what to see can be a little daunting. The only imperative is to try and catch a show or two for a fun night out of laughter. And with musical, stand-up, group, audio and visual comedy, there’s plenty for everyone.
So, here are a few suggestions. Alternatively, whip out a program, shut your eyes, and let your spidey senses choose one for you. And if you have any other recommendations, do share it with us.
Felicity Ward Reads From the Book of Morons
25 March – 18 April, Melbourne Town Hall
In this show, Felicity Ward recollects moments in her life when she had acted like a moron. There’s the salivating run-in with a Big Issue vendor, a dodgy masseuse, IBS and a not so pleasant encounter with some hallucinatory herbage.
Felicity’s show is a well-balanced combination of witty words, self-deprecating humour, improvisation and sporadic audience interaction. Along with her animated, high-energy, exaggerated physical comedy, she’s a natural comedic talent, and bloody hilariously one at that.
Nina Conti: Talk to the Hand
25 March – 18 April, Melbourne Town Hall
2008 Barry Award Winner Nina Conti returns with her Monkey, that’s because she’s a ventriloquist, and a mighty brilliant one too. Thus far, the British-born actress/comedienne has had a string of top reviews, and her resume includes appearances in television shows Black Books and Holby City.
In this show, Monkey (with the upper-hand, if you catch my drift) and Nina do a little storytelling, with the former also doing a little foul-mouthing too. Other characters like a granny make a showing, and there’s some audience participation thrown in for good measure. Together with Conti’s remarkable talent as a voice impersonator, comic and original performer, Talk to the Hand is definitely a show I’m looking forward to watching.
The Bedroom Philosopher: Songs from the 86 Tram
25 March – 18 April, Victoria Hotel, 215 Lt Collins St
Justin Heazlewood, a.k.a. The Bedroom Philosopher has been making waves on Triple J with his latest track, Northcote (So Hungover), a telling tale of scenester satire.
In Songs from the 86 Tram, the Bedroom Philosopher takes the audience on a tram ride from Bundoora to Docklands, slipping in and out of different characters like a Sudanese immigrant, an old lady, and the ‘sexy’ tram inspector, all through song. It’s a very inventive and hilariously original show, one any Melburnian would appreciate.
Yianni Agisilaou: 96 and One Half Things That @#$% Me Off
30 March – 11 April, Tony Starr’s Kitten Club, 267 Little Collins St
Best described as interesting and funny.
Stand-up comedian Yianni Agisilaou complains about babies on planes, the injustice of the female orgasm, and quantum physics. He also inhabits different characters with convincing and hilarious results like his father, a womanising Greek fisherman with suspect morals, as well as his mother.
It’s not a perfect show – it starts off a little pedestrian but then takes off into a brilliantly entertaining, memorable performance. Yianni is an extremely charming and captivating comic, and possibly the only comedian I’ve encountered who can make facts about quantum physics funny.
Fear of the Brown Planet Returns
25 March – 18 April, Melbourne Town Hall
Comedy duo, Nazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman bring you political comedy, targeting issues of race like the Indian student bashings, the lack of ‘brown people’ in television, war against terror and immigration laws. At time, this can be quite a confronting show (especially for white Australians), but to see it as an ‘attack’ against ‘white people’ (as is repetitive uttered by the duo), is to miss the point.
Possibly the most multi-cultural audience I’ve encountered thus far in the MICF, Fear of the Brown Planet Returns is a bold, no-holds-barred, hilarious and entertaining show.
The Axis of Awesome: Infinity Rock Explosion
25 March – 17 April, Roxanne – Roxanne Room, 2 Coverlid Place
If you’re looking for quite simply a fun night out, full of laughs and musical comedy, Axis of Awesome’s Infinity Rock Explosion is a must-see. With songs like Sexual Harassment, 4 Chords Song (utterly brilliant), the Surprise Song (sung to the tune of Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire) and their very own version of Five For Fighting’s Superman track, Birdplane, this three-piece band is gloriously wacky, funny, and extremely talented musicians.
Metrosketchuals
24 March – 17 April, Check listing for venue
Leave your brains behind because you won’t need it for this marvellously wacky sketch show.
With some help from video footage and audio narratives, Comedicate founders, Beau Fitzpatrick and Josh Ladgrove attempt to escape from a room they’ve been held captive in by someone who sounds suspiciously like the villain from Saw. The show follows as they seek ‘interesting’ (hilariously stupid) ideas to themselves free.
Very funny, very silly, semi-childish fun – especially love the sporadic appearance of Gollum from inside a fridge.
Asher Treleaven: Secret Door
25 March – 18 April, Melbourne Town Hall
Another show that has gotten rave reviews. Promising to be full of laughs, surreal, strange and dotted with sexual taboos, 2009 Barry Award winner Asher Treleaven is one I’m definitely looking forward to see.
Carl-Einar Häckner: Big in Sweden
25 March – 18 April, Swiss Club, 89 Flinders Lane
Incorporating magic, slapstick, and music underlying hilarious commentary, Carl-Einar Häcker’s show is fast-paced, full of gags, and just that little bit absurd. Having been likened to British comedian/magician, Tommy Cooper, Big in Sweden is gleefully fun and for anyone who is easily entertained by unpredictable silliness and random acts of illusionary tricks.
Pablo Francisco Live
Wed 14 – Sat 17 April, Palms at Crown, 8 Whiteman St
One of the bigger U.S. names at this year’s MICF. He’s a huge hit in the land of the Internet; his Little Tortilla Boy skit, a film trailer spoof starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves and the voice of the film preview narrator guy, is brought to life by Francisco alone. His voice impersonations are uncanny, as is his ability to perform convincing impressions of movie stars, singers and the Governor of California.
I became a big fan of his via YouTube, and I’m sure his show will be an unpredictable concoction of creativity, laughs and remarkable characters you didn’t expect to see.
Dave Thornton: A Different Type of Normal
25 March – 18 April, Arthur’s Bar at Rosati, 95 Flinders Lane
Anyone who can make Times New Roman funny, and a string of other typefaces hilarious, is great by me. Thornton’s brand of stand-up comedy is sometimes self-deprecating, always witty, and injected with physical, high-energy humour. He’s a natural on stage, laid-back, charming and a mesmerising performer to watch. Here, he talks about his very Australian childhood, makes Dad jokes, and even pokes fun at Sophie Monk.
Aside from producing non-stop laughter, A Different Type of Normal is also poignant and one of the must-sees at this year’s MICF.
Sam Simmons: FAIL
25 March – 18 April, The Bosco, City Square
It is not always a funny show, but definitely one of the most craziest ones I’ve ever been to. Infinitely erratic, unpredictable and utterly surreal, FAIL, as we have all come to know, points at the stupidity of someone’s failure with amusing effect. Here, Simmons takes us to a game show, reads us some stories about ants, and introduces us to Satan’s lettuce, a cabbage named of Diane. Each and every skit is an instance of failure, or rather, a piss-take of fail.
Located at the charming Bosco theatre in City Square, this lightning fast-paced show is gloriously bloody silly, and ends with a twist that is both heart-warming and magical.
Headliners: A Star-Spangled Showcase of America’s Hottest Comedy
25 March – 18 April, Melbourne Town Hall
A pretty self-explanatory title. With a rotating triple bill of U.S. comedians featuring the likes of Jeremy Hotz, Kate Micucci and Todd Barry, it’s a great way to be introduced to some new acts and get a bang for your buck. Keep an eye out for the listings to see who is on.
Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour
1 – 17 April, Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton
A little something different – a comedic tour of the Melbourne Museum with top comedians as your tour guide. Sounds a bit odd but last year, the tour was a sold out show. So, if you’re up for laughing at science and history, here is your chance to experience hilarity and facts served in equal measure.
Talking Dirty in the Dark
30 March – 15 April, Melbourne Town Hall
Not for the faint-hearted. With the lights down low, balaclavas infixed, three comedians take the stage to perform material they believe is/was too offensive or inappropriate to share with the general public. Thus, it is very likely that the show will offend and push buttons, which also most likely explains why they’ll be hiding in the dark.
If you’re not easily peeved off and have a high threshold for vulgarity (as well as an inability to draw the line between PC and non-PC), then this show is probably worth the go. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The Festival Club
25 March – 18 April, The Hi Fi, 125 Swanston St
Great value for money – $10 for 10 comedians. 6 nights a week, different comedians take the stage for a late night show. It’s a great way to see a bunch of artists that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen individually. Unfortunately, online sales are not available for this performance, and to find out who’s performing on any given night, pop over to the Melbourne Town Hall where there’s a listing board up.
For more information, visit the MICF official site: http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
All images from: http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
