By Nick Bugeja
Lawrence Mooney’s relocation to a remote rural town is the driving source of his material for his new show, Dead Set Country. This change of scenery has brought with it a fundamental change to everyday life for Mooney, from acquainting himself with the quixotic social mores of small town Australia, to caring and tending to (a little bit too much) for his horses.
The show was engaging and humorous from beginning to end. It was clear that over the decades Mooney had cultivated a loyal and committed fanbase, who unfailingly succumbed to laughter upon every joke, story, and act out Mooney delivered. The brand of Mooney’s comedy certainly has particular appeal to those in and around his age bracket, with its inherently Australian quality, attacks on aspects of political correctness, and cultural touchstones (such as the television show Skippy). That is not to say however the show cannot be enjoyed by younger audiences — far from it.
In Dead Set Country, Mooney plays to his strengths as a comedian, combining his personal experiences, social commentary and truly bizarre events to proper effect. His passion for his work has clearly not waned and he has served up a strong hour of stand-up comedy.
Lawrence Mooney Performs Dead Set Country at The Athenaeum until April 20
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/lawrence-mooney/