Stephen K Amos : What Does the K Stand For?

By Sofia Monkiewicz

UK comedic genius Stephen K Amos has done it again. His natural ability to take control of his stage and his audience and invoke a wave of constant full-bodied laughter is outstanding, and he has produced yet another top quality show. What Does the K Stand For? revolves around the questions we are always asked and are rarely asked; the topics we don’t talk about but probably should; and the things nobody ever discusses and for good reason. Amidst segments about touchy subjects like race, sexuality, religion and death, Amos also entertains with tales about his childhood and bad break-ups, along with a very impressive attempt at an Australian accent.

Telling jokes about serious issues like racism and homophobia is extremely hit or miss, but Amos is far from offensive. His observations are honest and undeniably hilarious, and he poses questions to the audience throughout the show, encouraging interaction about things people would not normally discuss. The funniest moments by far were when he interrogated those sitting in the first couple of rows and when he singled out any latecomers, so a word of warning: be prepared to be questioned if you sit too close to the front! His quick wit and talent for improvisation is what makes him so successful, and much of the show relies on some decent audience involvement, whether his targets want to participate or not. Amos’ eagerness for his audience to engage with him also triggered a couple of hecklers, which he clearly enjoyed, and effortlessly incorporated their comments into a part of the show. His sharp creativity means that no two shows are ever identical, which is definitely part of his appeal.

Stereotypes are shattered and taboo topics are flung into a public forum; What Does the K Stand For? is not only an A-grade comedy production, but it is also a heartfelt and empowering one-man discussion. Amos creates a sense of acceptance and pride amongst the crowd as he poses questions relating to multiculturalism and sexuality. He is able to mock and inspire simultaneously, which is certainly a skill to be admired, and it is evident why he is one of the most popular comedians at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Flawless, confident and charismatic, Stephen K Amos has unsurprisingly created another brilliant show. We even find out what the ‘K’ really does stand for, so if nothing else, check out What Does the K Stand For? simply to satisfy your curiosity!

What Does the K Stand For? is on at the Athenaeum Theatre until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/what-does-the-k-stand-for-stephen-k-amos

Blake Mitchell : Enter the Yum Yum

By Colin Flaherty

This show could be described as a live action version of Adventure Time with a hardcore shadowy undercurrent. In fact the venue and staging suited the sinister atmosphere perfectly; in front of a dart board, lit by a single spotlight deep within the bowels of a pub.

The plot was complex; exploring abandonment issues, psychosis and other emotional problems with a mystical motif on top. Wrapped in a quest format, there were frequent surreal moments to provide the laughs and make the darkness palatable. Mitchell employed heavy handed self deprecation with plenty of comical abuse launched at him by those he encountered on his journey. It was driven by a soundtrack which set the mood, animated secondary characters and provided cues.

Audience interaction played a huge part and his appearance made it very confronting but he was just a big (albeit rather broken) teddy bear. Prowling the room he encouraged punters to accept his gifts, take care of important props and validate his comments. Sometimes his miming didn’t make it clear what he wanted done, but he moved on to others until someone worked it out.

All was seemingly going well until chinks in his armour emerged. Mitchell broke character a few times venting loudly, which could easily be mistaken as clever parts of the script as they were amusing in their extremity. After one too many technical issues in this audio heavy performance he put a halt to the show even though the supportive audience (one girl was compelled to give him a hug) wanted him to continue. He cited reasons of not feeling it and proceeded to denigrated himself at length. Not a very happy note for a comedy show to end on.

Judging by reports of previous performances, the show (and his well being) is currently in a state where it would appeal primarily to people who get off on car crash performances such as the band The Brian Jonestown Massacre. If Mitchell can hold it together and get to the finale as planned, the full twisted beauty will be revealed.

Enter the Yum Yum is on at The Bull and Bear Tavern until April 19
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/enter-the-yum-yum-blake-mitchell

Bob Franklin, Steven Gates & Roz Hammond – The Writers: The Difficult Second Episode

By Lisa Clark

Another weird but entertaining comedy play by Bob Franklin. Although it’s subtitled “The Difficult Second Episode” it also seems to hark back to Bob Franklin (The Librarians) and Steven Gate’s (Tripod) first collaboration Stubborn Monkey Disorder. Could this be the third in Bob Franklin’s Steve & Biscuits Trilogy? They are the main things that all three shows have in common. Stubborn Monkey Disorder was Bob Franklin as reality TV show writer and Steven Gates as his side kick in a rather gothic surreal two hander where the reality TV show gradually came to life. Last year’s Golden Gibbo nominated The Writers where Steven Gates was replaced by two other Steves, Steven Stagg and Stephen Curry in an exploration of the inside of a writers mind.

The Writers: The Difficult Second Episode has a bit of both previous shows, playing around with different writing styles and genres and hinting at darker psychological undertones. It starts with a blackout like Stubborn Monkey Disorder, with Steven Gates back as Bob the writer’s suspicious side-side kick and ex writing partner breaking into the house. Then there are links to last year’s show with the name, the mention of tea and biscuits of course, and that it is a three-hander.

This year Bob and Steven are joined by the fabulous comedic actress Roz Hammond (Mad As Hell) who plays various other main characters. Again there are hints in this show that it is a manifestation of Bob’s mind during the writing process. With Steven representing his guilt and anxieties and Roz playing Bob’s idealised versions of women that come alive in the story. The story itself was often puzzling but became a bit clearer as it went along. Gatesy catches Bob out not only working on a comedy festival show without him but also spending a bit too much time with his ex-wife. Like Bob, it’s fairly slowly paced, absurd, and requires the audience’s attention. There were some patches that felt a bit too ponderous, but it also had some very funny highlights including a short interlude of cabaret from Steven and a deliriously joyful montage.

Although there is not much in the way of a set there are a lot of important sound and lighting cues and everything impressively runs like clockwork. The show over all is very tight and like the previous works is a very cerebral, theatrical piece with a strong British sit-com influence. It’s not as powerful as last year’s The Writers, but I still found many laughs and enjoyed spending the hour with three extremely talented comedy performers.

The Writers: The Difficult Second Episode is on at Melb Town Hall – Regent Room until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/the-writers-the-difficult-second-episode-bob-franklin-steven-gates-roz-hammond

Damian Smith – I’m Here All Weak: Ultimate Edition

By Colin Flaherty

Living with Asperger’s Syndrome, Damian Smith has created a show that explores what it is like to walk a mile in his shoes. And be assured that the mile has been measured exactly.

The show was full of accurate facts and figures (he claimed to be unable to lie about any of them). There were plentiful geeky pop culture references, so many that it was almost impossible to catch them all. He played up various stereotypes while dispelling others. Routines about some highly vocal but ignorant folks and various overly well meaning people were brilliant. Tales from his own life rounded out a highly personal, informative and engaging show.

Smith began the show utilising a lot of self deprecation as this was a sure fire way to get laughs. As the show progressed, he moved away from this by adopting the attitude of “Why must I apologise for my condition” and began telling things like it is. He stressed that you do not suffer from Asperger’s, you lived with it. He tried to ease us into darker material but he needn’t have worried as this revealed much more of his personality and generated just as many laughs.

Although it wasn’t a major focus of the show, he went some way to educate his audience about the realities of Asperger’s. A number of carers in the audience clearly related to his stories and it was fascinating for the rest of us who were only familiar with the Rain Man (a particularly touchy subject for Smith) and Sheldon Cooper portrayals in the media.

As promised in the advertising, there was a lot of graph humour. It was some of the best graph work I had seen and he was clearly proud of them. In fact we often waited in hope that a routine would be followed by one of his hilarious graphs.

This was a brilliant show that delighted the broad demographic that attended. Although he downplays his talents, Smith is a wonderful performer to match his razor sharp writing skills.

I’m Here All Weak: Ultimate Edition is on at The Downstairs Lounge @ The Swanston Hotel until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/i-m-here-all-weak-ultimate-edition-damian-smith

Hannah Gadsby : The Exhibitionist

By Alanta Colley

Barry Award nominee and author of the successful ABC art doco ‘Hannah Gadsby’s Oz’, Hannah Gadsby is back this Comedy Festival with a fresh batch of self-deprecation and tragi-comedy.

In this year’s show Hannah turns her trained art historian’s eye to the hilariously terrible world of the selfie. The theme is simple and effective. Hannah guides us through some of the internet’s most egregious examples of selfies which communicate much more than the composer intended. We learn of the failed cleavage shot; the tense selfie, the pet selfie and the selfie with unfortunate background composition. In a media-soaked world the demonstration of poorly executed self promotion through selfies is truly hilarious. Hannah then takes us on an adventure through the selfies of the ages (painted portraits, both of others and self-portraits) and we start to examine the symbolism of composition. So much has changed with the advent of the Iphone, and yet, in many ways, so little.

Hannah, of course, turns the critical eye on her own selfies, and even more unfortunately the portraits seized by others of Hannah while out and about, capturing many of Hannah’s less flattering sides. We take a tour of Gadsby’s awkward, traumatic and unglamorous childhood and adolescence through the through the artless photography conducted by her folks. Catharsis is achieved as Gadsby airs the skeletons of her youth.

Gadsby is a master of self-deprecation and holding up to the light those parts of her life that the rest of us would do our best to bury. In this show Hannah combines the style of her annual Art Lecture series through examination and analysis of the image, with her more direct stand-up, which usually focuses on exploration of herself. It’s a pleasing fusion.

The mistress of the anti-climax and over-lord of understatement; the furiously clever Hannah Gadsby is always a pleasure to spend an hour with. You’ll not be disappointed with this visual journey to the self.

The Exhibitionist is on at Melb Town Hall – Supper Room until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/the-exhibitionist-hannah-gadsby

Damian Callinan & Tim Overton : Out Of Print Book Club

By Caitlin Crowley

Out of Print Book Club is billed as a mix between First Tuesday Book Club and Whose Line is it Anyway? What a fantastic premise for a comedy festival show – an improvisational hour of comedy about non-existent books.

Comedian Damian Callinan and actor Tim Overton, host the evening in the beautiful Council Chambers at Melbourne Town Hall. There is a rotating list of guest artists and on the evening we attended they were writer Emilie Collyer, comedian Gordon Southern and veteran of the improv scene Lliam Amor. Our hosts direct proceedings leading their guests in a series of book discussions and dissections. With different artists each evening the performance will vary depending on the chemistry on stage and the material they have to work with. Some of the set-ups were a bit too obtuse for the cast to play with but Collyer in particular was an utter delight.

The whole experience became more fun when audience members were encouraged to participate. My favourite line for the evening came from an audience member who responded to the question of unpublished Little Miss titles with the suggestion of Little Miss Ogyny.

Overton plays the show’s theme on keyboard and moves proceedings along nicely but there’s something of a missed opportunity about the whole show. Surely with the theme, the setting and Callinan’s gift for character comedy there is room to play up the concept of discoveries of rare and antiquated books. And Overton’s acting and musical chops could be better utilised – a Whose Line is it Anyway style hoedown given a bookish twist would be great.

This is a good show with the potential to be a best seller. Perhaps a quick edit of the Out of Print Book Club will lift it to a position on the top shelf.

Out Of Print Book Club is on at Melb Town Hall – Council Chambers until April 20
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/out-of-print-book-club-damian-callinan-tim-overton