Squirrel Comedy – Page 140 – We're Nuts About Australian Comedy

Tripod – 101 Hits

By Elyce Phillips

It’s hard to believe it, but Tripod (Scott Edgar, Steven Gates and Simon Hall) have been performing together for 20 years. Why, it only feels like yesterday that Scod, Gatesy and Yon were in their matching skivvies or whipping up songs in an hour on Triple J. To celebrate this massive achievement, Tripod have released a songbook titled ‘101 Tripod Hits’ – a collection of their best work over the last two decades. In the show version of 101 Hits, the fates decide the playlist, drawing randomly from the book via a bingo cage and 101 numbered balls.

On the evening I attended, there was a good mix of older and more recent material. The bingo cage delivered songs from as far back as Tosswinkle (‘Building An Enid’) to 2013’s Men of Substance (The hilariously choreographed ‘DILF’). The performances got a little shaky on songs being plucked out for the first time in the run, but it’s incredibly impressive that they’re prepared to play whatever the balls decide. On the whole, the performances were fantastic showcasing not only the trio’s musical talent but also their comedic skill. These songs are still so very, very funny, some even becoming more topical with the passage of time.

In the ‘staff picks’ section of the show, Tripod were joined by a special guest, viollinist Xani Kolac, who played a gorgeous rendition of ‘Let’s Take A Walk’. She then stayed on to accompany a performance of ‘Astronaut’, her effects-laden strings turning the song into something hauntingly beautiful, yet still venting the frustrations of those fat gloves.

If you’re a long-time fan, the nostalgia factor will make this a really special show. I was bobbing up and down with excitement when I heard the opening chords of ‘IKEA’, as I was kind of obsessed with the song back in the day (I was a horrifically nerdy teen). But if you’ve somehow missed Tripod until now, it’s a wonderful way to get a feel for what they’re all about.

Although no two shows will be the same, Tripod have a back catalogue so brilliant, you can be sure you’ll have a great time. 101 Hits is a whole lot of fun and a must-see for fans.

Tripod – 101 Hits is on at The Famous Spiegeltent at the Art Centre until April 17

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/101-hits-tripod

Anthony Jeannot – Rage Against The Man Child

By Elyce Phillips

When we’re young, we’re idealistic – confident that if we put our minds to it, we can be our best and achieve anything. As we grow older, it can be difficult to maintain that naïve positivity as we are increasingly confronted by our own limits and those of society. In Rage Against The Man Child, Anthony Jeannot explores what it is to grow up and look at our lives through the prism of our younger self. It’s a bittersweet show about losing your optimism and regaining it in unexpected ways.

Jeannot tells thoughtful and funny tales from his life. He strikes a good balance between idealism and reality, setting a tone that’s ultimately uplifting without being overly saccharine. There’s a nice flow to the show. Using three points from a letter he wrote to himself as a teenager gives Jeannot’s tales a framework, and adds a feeling of narrative to what could have been disparate stories. A piece about his current role working in social media for a teen clothing brand was a stand-out and hilarious.

Rage Against The Man Child isn’t super polished. There are still some visible nerves in Jeannot on the stage and his material can at times become meandering – more akin to casual conversation with a mate than structured storytelling. However, this also adds a layer of vulnerability to the show that’s in keeping with the theme. Jeannot’s comedy is relatable and self-effacing, and had the audience chuckling throughout. He can certainly hold the attention of a crowd.

This is a fine work of stand-up from an up-and-coming comedian. Jeannot is entertaining, witty, and you even get a showbag at the end.

Rage Against The Man Child is on at the Downstairs Lounge at The Grand Mercure Hotel until April 17

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/rage-against-the-man-child-anthony-jeannot

Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall – Oh Hey Guys

By Lisa Clark

Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall has been doing comedy in Melbourne for many years. He’s collaborated a lot with other performers like Pat Burtscher. This is the first time I’ve seen him do a full solo standup show and it won’t be the last. Oh Hey Guys has the loveliest bit of (non-compulsory), unexpected, audience participation in it of the festival. Let’s just say, if you like a bit of carol singing, this is the show for you.

Alasdair is a great storyteller and a great writer, but don’t expect him to be slick or hitting you with rapid fire punchlines, he’s more thoughtful and reflective in style but he can still bowl you over. Oh Hey Guys gave me my best laugh so far at the Festival, I was really nearly falling out of my seat in tears at his story about a Buck’s night that takes a strange turn. I would love to have been at that Bucks night. It’s not what you expect at all.

The minimal audience participation in the show is, like Alasdair, unthreatening, and rather sweet. He makes one audience member our leader and doesn’t bother him too much. Then in the middle of the show there is a surprise that I can’t spoil (though the aforesaid singing might come into it) and it is a joyful, inspired surprise, almost as good at Michael Williams’ astonishing surprise in his show, which I also can’t talk about, (even though his season has finished, he might wish to perform it elsewhere), but anyway, you will be talking about Alasdair’s surprise to your friends and they will say, “Oh My God, that’s BRILLIANT!” and it was. Silly and brilliant.

Alasdair’s a brand new dad and the fact that he was able to put a show together that is as lovely and funny as this, is some sort of miracle in itself. New fatherhood does not dominate the show but when he does talk about it, he’s doing it from the angle of an intellectual inner city comedian. He finds laughs in the most unexpected aspects of parenthood and it’s refreshing to hear someone going into darker aspects of the experience.

If you are looking for something smart, warm, delightful and not at all in your face at the Festival, go see Alasdair, he’s funny and also, he’s got a new family to support.

Oh Hey Guys is on at the Forum Theatre until April 17

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/oh-hey-guys-alasdair-tremblay-birchall

Ross Purdy’s Apocaparty Destruct-a-thon: Presented by Demente Grande Variety Hour

By Colin Flaherty

Apocaparty Destruct-a-thon: Presented by Demente Grande Variety Hour. The title alone had me intrigued in Ross Purdy’s show and the blurb in the guide accurately sums up what you can expect; a “hot soup of existential dread and bizarre stupidity”.

This show explores the concepts of failure, crushed dreams and parental disappointment. These themes are fertile territory for comedy but Purdy often struggles to find the funny. He discusses his character’s mental issues rather dryly to the odd nervous titter so he had to resort to graphic turns of phrase and extreme self-deprecation to get most of the laughs. With these topics you would expect to see some sort of interesting character arc, but this is not the case as the aforementioned existential dread quashes any such notions. Aside from repeatedly pounding us with the fact that life is shit he doesn’t seem to be telling us anything else let alone offer any solutions.

An awful lot of his show is weirdness just for the sake of it. While this sits nicely with his theme of mental illness it lacks cleverness and employs absolutely no subtlety. There’s plenty of gross out humour that’s quite puerile and garners guilty chuckles. The biggest reactions he gets are from the many acts of self-flagellation which tend to be more awkward than laugh out loud (although the sadists in the crowd would say otherwise). You have to pay very close attention to follow the storyline buried amongst all the madness. His jumping between disparate thoughts may have been an appropriate way to demonstrate a breakdown on stage but it was difficult to sit through. In a similar manner, the finale to this performance is a rambling affair with numerous false endings dragging things out unnecessarily.

Performance wise, this is very messy. He regularly fumbles through a box of props which is distracting and the performance space ends up as an apt pigsty. Purdy uses a lot of pre-recorded dialogue to react to and generally does a good job of it but the effects heavy voices are often difficult to decipher particularly when combined with a musical soundtrack. Similarly his monologues go from quiet mumbling to shouting; again appropriate for the character but difficult to comprehend. He certainly has a distinct and unique voice, and commits wholeheartedly to selling this show but it’s a shame that his delivery can be so impenetrable.

One aspect I found intriguing and amusing were a number of moments self-critiquing his own performance while having digs at comedic conventions. His acknowledgement to the audience that he is well aware that this is all a bit of a shemozzle is cute but doesn’t really make things any more palatable.

While certainly a wild ride, this Apocaparty seems happy to wallow in the gutter rather than reach for the stars. If the humour of humiliation appeals you may find something to tickle your fancy but those hoping for something more coherent and substantial will find it a bit too much to cope with.

Apocaparty Destruct-a-thon: Presented by Demente Grande Variety Hour is on at Pleasance House Comedy until April 17

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/apocaparty-destruct-a-thon-presented-by-demente-grande-variety-hour-ross-purdy

Liam Ryan – OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU

By Elyce Phillips

Liam Ryan has noticed a pattern in his life – the minute things start going well for him, a moment of horrifying embarrassment looms from behind to grab him, like a terrifying spectre. In OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU, Ryan recounts his hilarious tales of humiliation for our amusement. It’s a fantastic show that’s mortifyingly relatable.

Ryan has a rich tapestry of embarrassing anecdotes to tell, from a minor food-related accident to a full-blown fire emergency. Regardless of where the story falls on the scale of severity, they are all equally entertaining. There’s not a dull second in OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU. Ryan is a natural storyteller, capable of injecting suspense and hilarity into even the most run-of-the-mill occurrences. The story of his first attempt to flirt with a girl is particularly well-told – you can see what’s going to happen from a mile away, but Ryan’s wording still makes the outcome feel surprising. It’s as though you’re standing right there, watching the events unfold in slow motion.

Ryan is completely at ease on the stage. His delivery is pitch-perfect, striking a balance between rehearsed performance and casual conversation. The show also includes some very impressive musical accompaniment, provided by Ryan –and some less impressive musical accompaniment, provided by an audience member. As a whole, OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU is cleverly composed and consistently funny. I attended on opening night and already the show appeared very polished – a testament to Ryan’s skill and quick wit.

If you like your stand-up, OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU is essential viewing. It’s an hour of non-stop laughs from a performer that just keeps getting better every year.

Liam Ryan – OH GOD IT’S BEHIND YOU is on in the Evatt Room at Trades Hall until April 17

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/oh-god-it-s-behind-you-liam-ryan

Jay Morrissey and Danielle Walker: Illuminate Karate Party.

By Lisa Clark

This is a one of those shows where two newcomers pair up to put on a Festival show together and do half the show each. Jay Morrissey and Danielle Walker have both been finalists at RAW and are pleasant company but still have a way to go before standing out in the huge and unwieldy Festival the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has become.

Needless to say there is no Karate in this show, sorry Karate fans, it’s just a very cute title and nothing to do with the comedy on offer. Danielle and Jay have worked out a nice structure of one set each with a short pre-recorded video before each staring both of them. The videos link the two performers in a rom-com plot, they are well made and pretty funny.

I’ve seen Danielle Walker doing standup around town over the past twelve months and have been very impressed by her individual style. There is a hilariously psycho edge to her cheerful country charm that pops out every now and then. Not too often, which is great, she’s learning where to let the psycho out and when to rein her in. It’s great to be part of the experience of Danielle developing her fabulous unique comedy voice. She also has delightful material about her nutty family and being from Townsville. She describes her family Christmas ritual of butchering a pig and other ways that her family might be a bit different to other people she meets in the city and has the audience laughing pretty much throughout.

I’ve not seen Jay Morrissey before, but other Squirrels have enjoyed previous outings by him and he comes across as pretty affable. Like Danielle he tells stories about his dad, family and friends. Unfortunately he stops to explain an early routine, and not in an ironic way. A bit about a facebook experiment where he tweets word for word the same as a pretty girl online to see if he gets the same amount of likes, is not an original idea but has a lot of potential, if he does more work on it and possibly creates the screen shots to go with it. Most of his material (singing replies to an old Shania Twain song, designing a bizarre funeral that has nothing to do with his life and a bunch of stiffy jokes) doesn’t feel very fresh or unique to Jay. He has a lot more work to do in small comedy rooms to really find his own strong comedy voice and material that works better for him and hopefully will help him stand out in a sea of similar comedians.

It’s not surprising that young performers talk about their families, they have not had a lot of life experience to talk about much else, it’s finding the laughs that’s the main thing. This show is unsurprisingly uneven, but both comedians show potential. If they put a lot more work in, these performers will grow and develop and it will be interesting to see where they go.

Jay Morrissey and Danielle Walker: Illuminate Karate Party is on at The Imperial Hotel

for more info go to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Website:

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/illuminati-karate-party-jay-morrissey-danielle-walker