So I've packed in a few MICF shows this weekend because all the shows are cheaper for the Easter preview weekend. For what it's worth, my opinions on comedy shows are basically about how much they made me laugh - a pretty fair measure in my view. Here's what I've seen so far...
Melinda Buttle in 'How Embarrassment' - Saw this one because I listen to Mel's podcast 'The Minutes' (with The Grates singer Patience Hodgson) and really like her humour. I enjoyed the show but there wasn't as many laughs as I'd hoped and she was a bit unprepared, using an audience member to help her along by prompting from a list as to what story was up next. A Herald Sun reviewer has given the show 4.5 stars which surprises me. I don't really do 'stars' but if I had to for this show, I'd have put it at more like 3.5. Funny but not side-splitting, tell-all-your-friends funny for me.
Dave O'Neil in '33 things I should have said no to' - Dave O'Neil is a bit of a stalwart but I've never seen him do a stand-up show, only enjoyed his work on TV and radio. It was really his appearance on 'The Agony of Life' that made me go and see this one, he's just so funny on that show. He didn't quite live up to the expectation I had based on that but I guess that's an unfair comparison when his moments on 'The Agony of Life' are edited down so we just get the real zingers. Enjoyed this but would put it at about the same level as Mel Buttle in that I wouldn't encourage you to race out and buy tickets if you're only going to see one or two shows.
Rhys Nicholson in 'Dawn of a new error' - This show is very, very funny though not for the faint hearted. He covers ground that will make the conservative among you squirm so don't see it if you know you'll be offended when things vere into murky territory. Like, graphic sexual territory. Amongst other things. He tells a story about his mother that is as hilarious as it is alarming and it certainly explains a few things about the man before us. So many laughs, I loved this show. The Herald Sun gave it four stars, for what it's worth.
Matt Okine in 'Broken Diamond House' - Hilarious. Loved this show, my favourite so far. Beautifully crafted narrative and the laughs just kept coming. The narrative came to a bit of a crescendo and that was when I realised just how deeply he'd lured me in - I HAD to know what happened at the end of the story. His popularity is catching on and his shows are selling out so book yourself some tickets soon. Highly recommend!
Luke McGregor in 'My soulmate is out of my league' - This is a fascinating experience of stand-up comedy. This guy, who I saw because I love his appearances on one of my favourite podcasts, 'The Little Dum Dum Club', is probably the most unusual comedian I've ever seen perform. He seems so nervous and uncomfortable (indeed, he refers to his OCD and anxieties throughout the show) and yet somehow it just works. It's hilarious. It's hard to explain, but it's hilarious. He's performing in a tiny room at the Portland Hotel which was so hot I thought I was going to faint but other than that, a pleasure to watch. (And for the record, I reckon this guy is going places. You mark my words.)
Melinda Buttle in 'How Embarrassment' - Saw this one because I listen to Mel's podcast 'The Minutes' (with The Grates singer Patience Hodgson) and really like her humour. I enjoyed the show but there wasn't as many laughs as I'd hoped and she was a bit unprepared, using an audience member to help her along by prompting from a list as to what story was up next. A Herald Sun reviewer has given the show 4.5 stars which surprises me. I don't really do 'stars' but if I had to for this show, I'd have put it at more like 3.5. Funny but not side-splitting, tell-all-your-friends funny for me.
Dave O'Neil in '33 things I should have said no to' - Dave O'Neil is a bit of a stalwart but I've never seen him do a stand-up show, only enjoyed his work on TV and radio. It was really his appearance on 'The Agony of Life' that made me go and see this one, he's just so funny on that show. He didn't quite live up to the expectation I had based on that but I guess that's an unfair comparison when his moments on 'The Agony of Life' are edited down so we just get the real zingers. Enjoyed this but would put it at about the same level as Mel Buttle in that I wouldn't encourage you to race out and buy tickets if you're only going to see one or two shows.
Rhys Nicholson in 'Dawn of a new error' - This show is very, very funny though not for the faint hearted. He covers ground that will make the conservative among you squirm so don't see it if you know you'll be offended when things vere into murky territory. Like, graphic sexual territory. Amongst other things. He tells a story about his mother that is as hilarious as it is alarming and it certainly explains a few things about the man before us. So many laughs, I loved this show. The Herald Sun gave it four stars, for what it's worth.
Matt Okine in 'Broken Diamond House' - Hilarious. Loved this show, my favourite so far. Beautifully crafted narrative and the laughs just kept coming. The narrative came to a bit of a crescendo and that was when I realised just how deeply he'd lured me in - I HAD to know what happened at the end of the story. His popularity is catching on and his shows are selling out so book yourself some tickets soon. Highly recommend!
Luke McGregor in 'My soulmate is out of my league' - This is a fascinating experience of stand-up comedy. This guy, who I saw because I love his appearances on one of my favourite podcasts, 'The Little Dum Dum Club', is probably the most unusual comedian I've ever seen perform. He seems so nervous and uncomfortable (indeed, he refers to his OCD and anxieties throughout the show) and yet somehow it just works. It's hilarious. It's hard to explain, but it's hilarious. He's performing in a tiny room at the Portland Hotel which was so hot I thought I was going to faint but other than that, a pleasure to watch. (And for the record, I reckon this guy is going places. You mark my words.)