By Nick Bugeja
Anthony Lehmann’s (‘Lehmo’) latest show, I Have To Tell You About A Thing I Did, is a fast paced hour of storytelling, jokes and crowd work. Known for his part on Utopia, work on the panel AFL comedy show Before the Game and radio, Lehmo doesn’t lean on his fame to garner easy laughs. Instead, his show is made up of personal stories, observations and well-crafted jokes and throwbacks, demonstrating his skill as a stand-up comic among other talents.
The show is framed around Lehmo’s recent visit to Papua New Guinea to conquer the Kokoda Trail, an expedition ripe for misadventure and humour. Lehmo recalls a fellow trekker whose preparation consisted of ice skating, the guide climbing the trail in adidas slides and his disconnection from technology (including his wife who couldn’t reach him).
Much of the show explores domestic life, and the tension and conflicts which arise with his wife and son. This is familiar territory for Lehmo and unsurprisingly, this section is a real highlight, delivering the biggest laughs of the show. Lehmo’s run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is short, but certainly one worth fitting into your schedule. He’s a professional at ease on stage, and I Have To Tell You About A Thing I Did is a consistently funny and entertaining show.
I Have To Tell You About A Thing I Did is on at Beer Deluxe until March 31