Five Good Reasons To See: HOO-HAA! Danger Hour

1. Melbourne’s best impro comedians. It’s no small boast, but The Big HOO-HAA! Melbourne ranks are made of players whose skills cross the divide of stand-up comedy and pure improvisation. It’s a formidable combination that douses drawers and slackens jaws.

 

2. The madness! The show involves all manner of dangerous and hilarious games. From the aquaphobic nightmare of Head in a Bucket, to the vertical insanity of Pogo Pogo, this show should be outlawed.

 

3. Curtains. The show has curtains.

 

4. HOO-HAA! Danger Hour is playing at the beautiful Butterfly Club. How amazing is this place?! You come for the comedy, but you stay for the cocktails. And the saucy staff. And the atmosphere. And the hidden-down-a-laneway vibe. And the martinis. And the back rubs. So many back rubs… Get the drift?

 

5. Mousetrap. This is one of the most terrifying, gut-wrenching, panic-inducing, vomit-projectiling impro games you will ever witness. Seriously. It’s worse than listening to Lindsay Lohan’s jailhouse poetry. Which means it’s perfect as the ultimate punishment for the team that loses. The stage is littered with mousetraps – all set, live and gagging for a taste sweet, sweet human flesh – where upon players must then improvise the funniest scene imaginable while performing in bare feet and wearing blindfolds. IT’S MADNESS, PEOPLE.

HOO-HAA! Danger Hour is on at The Butterfly Club on Saturday and Sunday nights

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/hoo-haa-danger-hour-the-big-hoo-haa-melbourne

Interview with Milton Jones about his first time at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

By Noel Kelso

Milton Jones is a celebrated UK television and radio comedian probably best known to Australian audiences for his regular appearances on topical quiz show Mock The Week where his clever and surreal one-liners prove even more entertaining than his blazingly bright Hawaiian shirts. He has won numerous awards for his comedy including Time Out’s ‘Best Newcomer ‘ and Chortle Magazine’s ‘Best Headliner’ awards and is author of a partly biographical novel Where Do Comedians Go When They Die?: Journeys of a Stand-Up.
As he makes his Australian debut at the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Squirrel caught up with him for a few questions.

Noel: As this is your first time performing solo in Australia, many people here will only be familiar with your material through seeing you on ‘Mock The

Week’.

Noel: How would you describe your live show to those unfamiliar with it and convince them to come and see it?

Milton: Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Clever in places. But mainly stupid.

Noel: What inspired you to first get started in comedy?

Milton: I wanted to be an actor, but no-one else wanted me to be one. So Idecided to try and pull faces for a living.

Noel: Your BBC Radio 4 show ‘Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones’ derives much of the humour from everyday situations gone awry when your character becomes involved. Do you have the same ‘can do’ attitude in real life?

Milton: I used to, until there was a petition from my family and local residents.

Noel: Has performing comedy always been something which appealed to you or were you originally intending to follow a different career path?

Milton: As I say I wanted to be an actor. All other doors were closed to me on the grounds of incompetence.

Noel: Which comedians – past of present – do you admire?

Milton: Rowan Atkinson. Emo Philips. My many Grandfathers.

Noel: Your comedy style comes across as that of someone who is perplexed by the way the world works and you just want answers – however odd and surreal they might be. Do you have a similarly questioning character off-stage?

Milton: Listen this is pretty much the same question as question 3 isn’t it? (see I a have questioning character)

Noel: Also – your performance style appears less confrontational than many of your contemporaries. Was that a conscious decision or is it something which arose naturally from your personality?

Milton: Oh shut up you pig.

Noel: Returning to your appearances on ‘Mock The Week’ – do you enjoy the competitive nature of that style of comedy and do you feel it gives that extra push to inspire more innovative comedy?

Milton: I would prefer it if I had 3 minutes to answer all the questions on MTW on my own, then I could go home and not have to compete with the others. Then at least I could always get a word in.

Noel: How do you find the writing process for your live shows differs from that used when writing a radio series – if at all?

Milton: Well when I’m writing radio I can use sound effects and read it off a script because the audience at home can’t see me – heh heh. But when I’m doing a live show I can pull faces.

Noel: You are known for wearing bright shirts when performing. Are these purely an affectation for the stage or do you actively seek out these fashion items? (I myself have quite a collection of hideous shirts which I wear with pride)

Milton: It’s a signpost to go with my stupid character. Id don’t know what your excuse is.

Milton Jones is appearing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March 27 to April 20 at The Supper Room, Melbourne Town Hall

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/milton-jones

5 Good Reasons to see Nath Valvo – Boy Next Door

1. Making this list reminds me of the song “20 good reasons” by Thirsty Merc (who ironically all now work at a Juice Bar called Thirsty Merc) so maybe the first reason to see my show is that you won’t hear the song “20 good reasons” by Thirsty Merc.

2. I have done my research (throughly) and will present my ultimate Grindr Vs Tinder research results. They are truly whore’ish and awesome.

3. I will share the single most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me in my life. It went down on a first date. It was truly awful for me … will be greatly entertaining for you.

4. My show is on at 9.30 … I have just looked up what is on the TV at that time! Pretty shit options!
Law and Order SVU, American Restoration, Dateline, 2 Broke Girls … and Station Close (ABC 3) that means the station is literally closed … surely my show will be better than that (maybe).

5. You’ll probably pick up at my show.*

*I have no evidence or knowledge of that ever happening however WHY NOT?! Get your best suit on, smack on some nice smelly stuff and you never know what could happen at my show!**

**You probably won’t pick up at my show.

Nath Valvo – Boy Next Door is on at Melb Town Hall – Backstage Room
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/boy-next-door-nath-valvo

Shows at the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival previously reviewed by Squirrel Comedy

By Colin Flaherty

It’s not long until the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival gets into full swing. To assist you in navigating the colossal program, here are 26 shows that we have reviewed in other festivals. Keep in mind that all shows will have undergone a fair bit of spit and polish since we last saw them.

2014 – When We Were Idiots: A Comedy Walking Tour Hosted by Xavier Toby
Burke & Wills Statue, City Square
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4924 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Alexis Simmonds 0-9 Tales of a Straight, Single Cat Lady
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3406 (MICF 2013)

Andy Matthews – String Theory
ACMI – Games Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5133 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

The Boy With Tape on His Face – More Tape
Forum Theatre – Upstairs
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5466 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

Cam Knight – 100 Percenter
The Upstairs Lounge @ Hairy Little Sista
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5443 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

CJ Delling – Reality Bandit
The Bull and Bear Tavern
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5448 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

FanFiction Comedy
Melb Town Hall – Cloak Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4332 (Edinburgh Fringe 2013) & https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3380 (MICF 2013)

Impromptunes: The Completely Improvised Musical
Trades Hall – The Annexe
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5083 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

The Improv Conspiracy : A Night in Chicago
The Croft Institute
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4865 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Marek Platek : Wormhole
The Provincial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5009 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Juliette Burton – When I Grow Up
Trades Hall – The Meeting Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4284 (Edinburgh Fringe 2013)

Late Night Letters and Numbers
Melb Town Hall – Powder Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3846 (MICF 2013)

The Little Dum Dum Club Live Podcasts!
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3469 Five Boroughs
(MICF 2013)

Marcel Lucont : Gallic Symbol
The Tuxedo Cat
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=2701 (Adelaide Fringe 2013)

Nellie White is The Shitty Carer
Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5093 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Political Asylum Late Night Riot!
Melb Town Hall – Supper Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3785 (MICF 2013)

Pop Mashup : Happy Birthday Doctor
The Butterfly Club
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5101 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Radio Variety Hour
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5089 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Rhys Nicholson – Eurgh
Portland Hotel – Gold Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5424 (Adelaide Fringe 2014)

Sam Allen & Chris Harrigan Inside the Egg: The Life of Anne Geddes’ Prisoner Children
ACMI – Games Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4842 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Set List
Melb Town Hall – Lower Town Hall & Victoria Hotel – Vic’s Bar
ttp://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3748 (MICF 2013)

Simon Taylor : Funny
Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5024 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Sitcom Theme Song Singalong and Trivia
The Provincial Hotel & Imperial Hotel
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4930 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Stephen Hall : Raiders of the Temple of Doom’s Last Crusade
Comedy On Collins
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=4983 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Wizard Sandwiches : The Last Lunch
Trades Hall – The Music Room
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5004 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

Wolf Creek : The Musical
Trades Hall – Old Council Chambers
https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=5049 (Melbourne Fringe 2013)

5 good reasons to see Pajama Party

1. It’s just like a party! But with more sitting in the dark, facing forward and laughing.

2. During our Adelaide run, a dog ran across the stage in the middle of the show. Can you believe it? A dog! It probably won’t happen again but you really can’t afford to take that chance.

3. You can show up in your sleepwear and no will look at you funny. Unless you sleep in the nude.

4. Two Words: Fairy Bread. Did you know Australia is the only country in the world with fairy bread? Look it up. It’s true. Not like that thing we made up about the dog running across the stage in Adelaide

5. If our show was a baked good it would be one of those Pork Floss buns from Breadtop. Equal parts sweet and terrifying.

Sarah Jones and Nicholas Johnson perform Pajama Party at The Downstairs Lounge @ The Swanston Hotel for the first two weeks of the festival. 

5 Good Reasons to see Daniel Connell – Dodgem Car Saviour.

1. I guarantee you will learn something during this show.

2. There’s a 73% chance you’ll have a good time.

3. I have just performed the show at Perth Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and the Canberra Comedy festival. I am happy with it and can’t wait for MICF to begin. You should see as many shows as you can, and tell everyone you know to do the same.

4. Here is a short clip of me performing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rZRPwRnzy0<

5.I make up my own statistics.
Daniel Connell – Dodgem Car Saviour is on at Forum Theatre – Ladies Lounge

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2014/season/shows/dodgem-car-saviour-daniel-connell