August 2024 – Page 8 – Squirrel Comedy

Sir Dickie Benson Interacts With the Audience Whether They Like It or Not

By Colin Flaherty

Sir Dickie Benson holds court in the intimate surrounds of the Carte Blanche bar of the Voodoo Rooms. It is here where he interacts with his fans, recounting tales of debauchery, leading vocal warm ups / primal rage sessions and chatting up gentlemen that he has taken a fancy to.

There have been numerous comedy characters portraying Luvvy thespians but Peet Torjussen kicks it into overdrive with Benson. He’s loud, confrontational and out of control. Upon entering the venue audience members are commanded to take to the front row lest you feel his wrath. Downing multiple bottles of “Vodka” and taking sneaky drinks of punter’s beers, he alternates between funny drunk uncle to raging monster. All of it is hilarious but a little worrying when you are on the receiving end of one of his sprays.

Being opening night, things were a lot looser than they should have been. He briefly peeked out of character stating “I seem to have forgotten my life stories”. Rambling tales often petered out and restarted multiple time, perfectly encapsulating his boozy persona. I wonder, had these stories been remembered would have this been slicker? Probably not as it is the chaos of Benson that provides most of the entertainment.

The majority of the hour is spent fielding questions from his adoring fans and improvising answers. Given the volatile personality on show here, there is plenty of trepidation from the audience leading to many pauses where neither the Artiste nor the fans make the first move. He is sure to settle into some sort of groove over the season. It’s not all improvised chaos. There is a nice little plot involving a beef with Ridley Scott about which Benson is quite vague.

This show would work well with a slightly tipsy audience who are lubricated enough to play along with the premise. However if they are too lubricated, things may get very messy and ugly, particularly with Dickies penchant for starting fights.

Sir Dickie Benson Interacts With the Audience Whether They Like It or Not is on at until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sir-dickie-benson-interacts-with-the-audience-whether-they-like-it-or-not

Carl Donnelly : Boosegumps

By Lisa Clark

After a really rough, humid day, Carl Donnelly is the one you need to just settle into with a frosty drink and relax knowing he will make you laugh about life with his brilliant story telling.

Carl isn’t a shouty comedian, he’s very low key and droll but also delightfully cheery and sweet. He’s in a happy place and creates a beautiful positive vibe. We had an 8 month old baby in the audience in this intimate room and Carl, experienced dad-comedian, took it in his stride. He brought it into his act with a very welcoming and kind manner that didn’t interfere with the show and made everyone feel great. It also proved how quick he was on his feet, to make up jokes on the spot. The baby gurgled occasionally but seemed to have a lovely time too.

Carl got some comedy mileage out of hoping the baby won’t remember any of the eye opening material about his prostate exam or other very adult material and blended it beautifully into his show. Boosegumps is about some really adult topics; such as arse-probing, his ageing urinary tract, and polyamory, but it’s so warm, candid and charming, I can’t imagine anyone being upset or offended. He proves you can have the audience falling about without raising your voice and you can joke about intimate topics without giving the impression you’re doing it for shock value.

I, of course, loved his material about the differences between the UK and Australia, especially messy UK public transport. His impressions of people doing the announcements were hilarious and his physicality embodying characters is a delight. Yes, Carl is Another UK comedian who’s married an Australian and spends a lot of time in Australia so his observations are spot on. I’ve seen him a few times before now in Melbourne doing full shows and standup spots, (but not this show) and he never disappoints. I’m one of those people who bought the minty liquid soap he has a hilarious routine about because it was so funny and intriguing.

There are plenty of hilarious and intriguing insights in Boosegumps. I’ve never heard the term Gooch before, so there you go, comedy is always teaching us new things.

Boosegumps is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Carl%20Donnelly%3A%20Boosegumps%22