By Jess Welch 
Last year’s best newcomer award winner Danielle Walker is back with another wonderfully unique show, Myths and Legends. Walker brings stories from her life, along with her distinctive artwork, which is familiar to all who have seen her. It’s a fun and light show that almost everyone can enjoy.
While the tales of Myths and Legends are interesting, it’s the tales from her life that really make the show. The stories of her family and boyfriend are captivating and paint a vivid picture, not unlike the pictures she employs during the show. Her method of storytelling is incredibly engaging. Some of the stories are outrageous and fantastic and others are familiar of every family. The night I was there, so was her boyfriend, which she referenced as she told one specific story, that he apparently doesn’t like very much. I can see why, but that only made it funnier for the rest of us, even as it made us cringe.
The art that always accompanies Walker’s shows is bright, bold and fun and allows her to tell jokes and stories that she otherwise wouldn’t be able to or wouldn’t work nearly as well. However, it is used sparingly, and to great effect. The pictures can sometimes elicit laughs on their own, but they also lend a useful hand to visualising her tales in a way that only makes them better. With the art being displayed on a large TV screen, there are occasionally technical hiccoughs, but Walker plays them off to laughs. Even the progression of the show format is used for joke fodder and it works incredibly well.
Walker laughs along with the crowd, which could be annoying in another comic. But Walker gets away with it and makes the show feel like a joint experience, rather than distant comic and audience. This works well in the smaller room, but I can equally see Walker adapting it to a much larger space just as easily.
There are some more adult themes addressed, but not in a crude or uncomfortable way. It genuinely feels as though we are following the stories of her life, rather than her using sex for laughs. It’s refreshing and brilliantly done.
Overall, Walker is still on the rise. I’m excited to see what she can do within the next few years.
Myths and Legends is on at the Victoria Hotel. See website for details
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/myths-and-legends