Adam Knox – Squirrel Comedy

Australians at Edinburgh Fringe 2022

The 75th Edinburgh Fringe Festival begins this week and, after a bit of an enforced break, there will be a strong contingent of Australian acts (as well as Aussie Expats and adopted Aussies) back in Auld Reeky town raring to tread the boards again. Here is a list of those we could find along with any reviews we have previously written.

Our British Correspondent Ron will be seeing a whole slew of shows and reviewing them for us.

To all those performers in Edinburgh, Chookas from The Squirrels and have a wonderful Fringe.

Adam Knox, Luka Muller and Peter Jones – 3’s Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3-s-comedy-adam-knox-luka-muller-and-peter-jones

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (Sean Choolburra, Janty Blair, Kevin Kropinyeri and Jay Wymarra)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aboriginal-comedy-allstars

AC/DC: Australian Comedians / Dope Comedy (Hosted by Daniel Muggleton)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ac-dc-australian-comedians-dope-comedy

Adelaide vs Edinburgh: The Clash of the Fringes
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adelaide-vs-edinburgh-the-clash-of-the-fringes

Adults Only Magic Show (Sam Hume and Justin Williams)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adults-only-magic-show

Aidan Jones – Looking for Work
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-looking-for-work

Aidan Jones – Taco
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-jones-taco

Alcohol Is Good For You
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you

Alice Fraser: Chronos
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-chronos

Ange Lavoipierre: I’ve Got 99 Problems and Here’s an Exhaustive List of Them
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ange-lavoipierre-i-ve-got-99-problems-and-here-s-an-exhaustive-list-of-them

The Anniversary (Claire Barthomew & Daniel Tobias)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anniversary

Anthony Jeannot: The Middle Bit
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anthony-jeannot-the-middle-bit

An Aussie, African and Englishman Walk Into a Bar…
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussie-african-and-englishman-walk-into-a-bar

Beak: Cocktail Boys (previously part of Burger King Illuminati)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/beak-cocktail-boys

Best of Adelaide’s Fringe Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/best-of-adelaide-s-fringe-comedy

A Bookish Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bookish-comedy-show

Comedy Boxing
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing

Comedy Hour: Prue Blake, Peter Jones and Sonia Di Iorio
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-hour-prue-blake-peter-jones-and-sonia-di-iorio

Comedy Striptease (Hosted by Kyle Legacy)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-striptease

Dan Rath: Cockroach Party
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dan-rath-cockroach-party

Dan Wills: Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/australia-a-whinging-pom-s-guide

Daniel Muggleton: Oh, More Mr White Guy?
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-oh-more-mr-white-guy

Danielle Walker: Nostalgia
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/danielle-walker-nostalgia

Here is what Bren Carruthers thought of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=15297

David Boyle: Stranded
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stranded

Dean Misdale: Life’s a Drag
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-s-a-drag

Dolly Diamond’s Hi T
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-hi-t

Dolly Diamond’s Bosom Buddies
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-diamond-s-bosom-buddies

Erin Fowler: EGG
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/egg

The Eric Tinker Experience
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/eric-tinker-experience

Gabbi Bolt: I Hope My Keyboard Doesn’t Break
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gabbi-bolt-i-hope-my-keyboard-doesn-t-break

Garry Starr: Greece Lightning
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/garry-starr-greece-lightning

George Dimarelos – 3am Brain
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3am-brain

Geraldine Quinn: BROAD
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/geraldine-quinn-broad

Grant Busé: SentiMENTAL!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/grant-buse-sentimental

Haus Party with Otto & Astrid
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/haus-party-with-otto-astrid

He Huang : Crazy Broken Chinese
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/crazy-broken-chinese

How to Converse
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/how-to-converse

Matt Harvey : I Got Bit by a Monkey Once
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-got-bit-by-a-monkey-once

Here’s what Peter Newling thought of this show at MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13806

The Importance of Being Earnest as Performed by Three F*cking Queens and a Duck
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/importance-of-being-earnest-as-performed-by-three-f-cking-queens-and-a-duck

Jimeoin: The Craic!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jimeoin-the-craic

Josh Glanc: Vrooom Vrooom
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-vrooom-vrooom

Karen from Finance is Out of Office
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/karen-from-finance-is-out-of-office

Late Show Great Show (Featuring 3 mystery Australian comedians!)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/late-show-great-show

Laura Davis: If This Is It
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-if-this-is-it

Liars and Clowns: A Late Night Comedy Show (Presented by Kyle Dolan)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/liars-and-clowns-a-late-night-comedy-show

Life Drawing With a Comedian
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/life-drawing-with-a-comedian

The Listies: Hamlet – Prince of Skidmark
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/listies-hamlet-prince-of-skidmark

Lloyd Langford: DILF
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lloyd-langford-dilf

Maryellen : Call Me Me
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/call-me-me

Michelle Brasier: Average Bear
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/michelle-brasier-average-bear

Here’s what Lisa Clark though of it at MICF 2022: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=14941

Mick Neven: Nevolution
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mick-neven-nevolution

Nikki Britton: One Small Step
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nikki-britton-one-small-step

Oliver Coleman: Sublime
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/oliver-coleman-sublime

Olivia McLeod: PASH
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/pash

OZmosis: The Great Australian Variety Pack (Hosted by Dane Simpson)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ozmosis-the-great-australian-variety-pack

Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/randy-feltface-alien-of-extraordinary-ability

Ray Badran: Sweet Baby Ray
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ray-badran-sweet-baby-ray

Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/reuben-kaye-the-butch-is-back

Rhys Nicholson – Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-rhys-rhys-rhys

Sam Campbell: Comedy Show
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-campbell-comedy-show

Sam Taunton: Yoho Diabolo
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-taunton-yoho-diabolo

Tim Ogborne : The In-Laws
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/in-laws

Tina del Twist: Caravan in the Sky
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tina-del-twist-caravan-in-the-sky

Tom Walker: Javelin
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-javelin

Troy Kinne : Live
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/troy-kinne-live

Australian Comedy at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe

Scotland’s capital city is bursting at the seams with talented artists as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe begins this week. As is usual many Australian acts are heading up to “sunny” Edinburgh to show the world what they’ve got. If you’re in town, be sure to check out some of these fabulous funny folk listed below.

We’ve compiled a list of all the acts we could find, along with links to the reviews of those shows that our Squirrel writers have seen at previous festivals. As usual we give the disclaimer that Festival shows are ever evolving beasts so the show that we saw could be rather different to current iteration.

If we’ve missed anyone, feel free to drop us a line (or contact us on social media)…

3’s Comedy – Adam Knox, Luka Muller and Peter Jones
Laughing Horse @ City Café
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/3-s-comedy-adam-knox-luka-muller-and-peter-jones

Aaron Chen: Piss Off (Just Kidding)
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aaron-chen-piss-off-just-kidding
Here’s Colin’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13744

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars : Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders and Steph Tisdell
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aboriginal-comedy-allstars

Absolute Zero: Jez Watts
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/absolute-zero-jez-watts-1

AC/DC: Australian Comedians / Dope Comedy
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ac-dc-australian-comedians-dope-comedy

Aidan ‘Taco’ Jones – 52 Days
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-taco-jones-52-days-1

Aidan ‘Taco’ Jones – Lightfoot James
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aidan-taco-jones-lightfoot-james

Alex Williamson: Sin on My Face
Just the Tonic at La Belle Angele
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alex-williamson-sin-on-my-face

Alice Fraser: Mythos
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-mythos

Ali Kennedy Scott: Fourth Cousin, Once Removed… Forcibly
Laughing Horse @ The Golf Tavern
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fourth-cousin-once-removed-forcibly

Andrew Roper: Break Point
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/andrew-roper-break-point

Ange Lavoipierre: Final Form
Underbelly, George Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ange-lavoipierre-final-form

Angus Brown: Everest
Imagination Workshop
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/angus-brown-everest

Apocalypse Comedy Club featuring Mick Neven
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Sneaky Pete’s
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/apocalypse-comedy-club-featuring-mick-neven

Ashes: A Comedy Showdown
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ashes-a-comedy-showdown

Aussiental : Arnie Pie
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussiental

Bart Freebairn: Maximum Delicious
Just the Tonic at The Caves
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bart-freebairn-maximum-delicious

The Best Show We’ve Ever Done at the Edinburgh Fringe : The Fish Girls
PQA Venues @Riddle’s Court
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/best-show-we-ve-ever-done-at-the-edinburgh-fringe

Brown Panther – Ruven Govender
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brown-panther-ruven-govender

Celeste Barber: Challenge Accepted
Pleasance at EICC
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/celeste-barber-challenge-accepted

Comedy Boxing – Best of the Best (Kyle Legacy)
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing-best-of-the-best-1

Comedy Striptease
Laughing Horse @ The Lock Up
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-striptease-1

Craig Fridey: The Darkness Distillery
Laughing Horse @ Sofi’s Southside
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/darkness-distillery

Daniel Connell: Piece of Piss
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-connell-piece-of-piss

Daniel Muggleton: Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy (But I Reckon it’s Easier for Straight, White Men?)
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-pimpin-ain-t-easy-but-i-reckon-it-s-easier-for-straight-white-men

David Tieck: What Would Bill Murray Do?
Just the Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/david-tieck-what-would-bill-murray-do

Demi Lardner and Tom Walker: We Musn’t
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-and-tom-walker-we-musn-t

Demi Lardner: Ditch Witch 800
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-ditch-witch-800

Dilruk Jayasinha: Cheat Day(s)
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dilruk-jayasinha-cheat-day-s
Here’s Lisa’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13724

Dolly Di*mond’s Bl*nkety Bl*nks
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dolly-di-mond-s-bl-nkety-bl-nks

Double Denim: Adventure Show
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/double-denim-adventure-show

Garry Starr Conquers Troy
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/garry-starr-conquers-troy

Gavin Lind: Shattered
Sweet Grassmarket
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shattered-1

George Dimarelos: Acting Natural
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/acting-natural

George Dimarelos: A Booklover’s Comedy Show
Laughing Horse @ 32 Below
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/booklover-s-comedy-show

Glenn Grimwood: Unf*ckable
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/glenn-grimwood-unf-ckable

Grant Busé: Touché Busé
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/grant-buse-touche-buse

The Human Show : Those Big Bois
Laughing Horse @ The Golf Tavern
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/human-show-free-fringe

Imaan Hadchiti: Being Frank
Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/imaan-hadchiti-being-frank

Jocks, Geordies and Aussies
PBH’s Free Fringe @ Whistlebinkies
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jocks-geordies-and-aussies

Josh Glanc: Glance You for Having Me
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-glance-you-for-having-me
Here’s Nick’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13739

Julia Rorke
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/julia-rorke

Laura Davis: Better Dead Than a Coward
Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-better-dead-than-a-coward

Louisa Fitzhardinge: Comma Sutra
Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louisa-fitzhardinge-comma-sutra

Love/Hate Actually (Act/React)
Imagination Workshop
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/love-hate-actually

Love is a Work in Progress with Tara Rankine
Just the Tonic at The Charteris Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/love-is-a-work-in-progress-with-tara-rankine

Luka Muller’s Gong Show
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/luka-muller-s-gong-show

Luka Muller: Haha Cool
Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/haha-cool

Motherhood: A Comedy: Tara Newton-Wordsworth
Just the Tonic at The Mash House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/motherhood-a-comedy

The Nasty Show Australia
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nasty-show-australia

Nath Valvo: I’m Happy for You
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nath-valvo-i-m-happy-for-you

Neal Portenza is Joshua Ladgrove in Edinburgh’s Only Bilge Pump Sales Seminar
Heroes @ Boteco
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/neal-portenza-is-joshua-ladgrove-in-edinburgh-s-only-bilge-pump-sales-seminar

Nick Elleray: Big Nick Energy
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nick-elleray-big-nick-energy

Ray Badran: Everybody Loves Ray, Man
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ray-badran-everybody-loves-ray-man

Rhys Nicholson: Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-nice-people-nice-things-nice-situations

Sam Kissajukian: Alcohol is Good for You
Laughing Horse @ The Lock Up
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you-sam-kissajukian-1

Sam Kissajukian: Good Evening Edinburgh
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/good-evening-edinburgh

Sam Taunton: It’s Nice, It’s Modern
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-taunton-it-s-nice-it-s-modern

The Stevenson Experience: Takes One to Know One
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stevenson-experience-takes-one-to-know-one

Suren Jayemanne: I’m Here, All Weak
Laughing Horse @ Bar 50
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-m-here-all-weak

Thomas Green: Tweak
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/thomas-green-tweak

The Three Deaths of Ebony Black (Amberly Cull)
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/three-deaths-of-ebony-black

Tom Ballard: Enough
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ballard-enough

Tom Cashman: XYZ
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-cashman-xyz

Tom Walker: Very Very
Assembly Roxy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-very-very
Here’s Will’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=13707

Totally Plucked: Grandma Josephine
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/totally-plucked

Two Little Dickheads: Kapow!
Just the Tonic at The Charteris Centre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/two-little-dickheads-kapow

Wil Greenway: The Ocean After All
Underbelly, Bristo Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wil-greenway-the-ocean-after-all

Zoë Coombs Marr: Bossy Bottom
Monkey Barrel Comedy
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/zoe-coombs-marr-bossy-bottom
Here’s Lisa’s review from MICF 2019: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=1265

The Death of Chimp Cop

By Will Erskine

Ben Vernel, Adam Knox, Rosie Vernel and Timothy Clark are Melbourne based sketch troupe Chimp Cop. Over the past 4 years they have established themselves at the festival through their spoof cop movie franchise of the same name. The Death of Chimp Cop is the 4^th installment in the series and to tackle the obvious question first, no you don’t need to have seen the first 3 for this one to make sense. This is a marvelously slick production that engages and delivers laughs throughout, from the quirky opening credits to the ridiculous conclusion.

It is a spoof cop action movie, presented in cinematic form complete with soundtrack and opening credits. The pace is of the show is incredible, making the 50-minute performance feel like half that. Each scene is so packed with puns, gags and prop comedy that it feels like for every joke that you notice there were 3 more hidden behind the surface. The plot progresses over a series of sketches blending between a current day courthouse and flashbacks to scenes of central protagonist Chimp Cop’s battle against one of his toughest adversaries.

The shows strength comes from its overall narrative and the combination of its parts. While each sketch could stand-alone in isolation the show is so much more than a series of unrelated sketches, delivering genuine story progression and character development often missing from sketch comedy.

On paper spoofing cop shows doesn’t seem like the strongest idea for a comedy festival show – and particularly not 4 comedy festival shows. The show is carried by the creativity and talent of every member of the group. This is very much an ensemble cast with each member getting equal measure of the laughs and funny moments.

The gags in The Death of Chimp Cop range from the bizarre, to the intelligent all the way to the wilfully awful – it is the combination of the three that leaves the audience begging for more by the end of the performance.

It will be fascinating to see if this really is the death of the Chimp Cop character. Whether, in the spirit of movie franchises, the troupe return to the well once more, or they decide to create new characters it will without doubt be another a must see show.

The Death of Chimp Cop is on at Trades Hall until 22^nd April details on the website:

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/the-death-of-chimp-cop

Chimp Cop Forever

By Elyce Phillips

Sketch group Chimp Cop (Timothy Clark, Adam Knox, Ben Vernel and Rosie Vernel) have earnt themselves a reputation as cult favourites at MICF. At the last couple of festivals, word quickly spread around about how hilarious they were, and their late-night shows became must-see viewing for comedy fans. Chimp Cop Forever, the third installment of the Chimp Cop saga, keeps the old-school gags coming in a thrilling tale about a man who is part chimp, all cop.

Chimp Cop Forever starts out strong with one of the most inventive opening sequences I’ve seen in a comedy show. The crew don’t have a screen this year so there are no pre-recorded sketches, and with the regular audio-visual element out, they’ve come up with clever workarounds. It’s a great introduction, and it sets up the story neatly. Chimp Cop must head to his hometown, working undercover to expose a drug ring, and it gets personal.

In the past, Chimp Cop’s humour has been compared to Police Squad! and Naked Gun, and not without reason. The group is clearly influenced by these sight-gag-heavy pun-fests and it’s absolutely delightful to see that tradition continue on. Chimp Cop Forever hits on all the great tropes of the crime genre, playing with them in an affectionate, utterly silly way.

The cast of Chimp Cop work together brilliantly. There’s clear chemistry between them all and their performances are slicker than they’ve been in the past. Clark is brilliantly funny as the titular Chimp Cop, and Knox, Vernel and Vernel are absolutely terrific as a rotating cast of characters – from Chimp Cop’s dad, Criminal Cop, to a series of bumbling henchmen and stooges.

Chimp Cop Forever is the best kind of late-night festival fun. It had the audience doubled over with laughter, and continues Chimp Cop’s record of producing fabulous comedy.

Chimp Cop Forever’s run at MICF has finished, but the sketch group will be premiering a new show later this year.
https://www.facebook.com/chimpcop/

Chimp Cop

By Elyce Phillips

When a business mogul goes missing and a man shows up dead, Detectives Chimp Cop and Tijuana Goldberg are on the case. Adam Knox, Ben Vernel, Timothy Clark and Rosie Vernel ham it up as a cast of good cops, bad cops, rogues and dames. It’s everything you love about a good detective drama, done on about 1/100th of the budget.

Chimp Cop is a loving parody of detective noir. It feels heavily influenced by Naked Gun, with a dose of Raymond Chandler in there for good measure. There are a lot of cheesy puns, plenty of stupid sight gags, and enough accents to cover every single cop show stereotype. The Chimp Cop team throw themselves into their performance wholeheartedly – to the point that there were probably a few prop-based injuries on stage. There aren’t a whole heap of bells and whistles in this show, but they work well with what they’ve got. A video screen is used to good effect to set the tone at the start. The character transitions could be clunky in the small space, but a few ad-libbed lines smooth things over.

Chimp Cop is a little rough around the edges, but there is some absolute gold in this hour of sketch. A graphic visual stand-in for a sex scene was…memorable, and an extended video montage about friendship was hands-down the funniest thing I’ve seen at the Festival so far. It sent me into one of those slightly terrifying hysterical laughs where you momentarily fear that you may never stop laughing. It’s the kind of unhinged madness that you want in late-night comedy.

Chimp Cop is incredibly silly and a whole lot of fun. If you’re a fan of cop dramas, there’s plenty of laughs to be had, and if you’re not, you’ll probably still get a chuckle out of the nonsense of it all.

Chimp Cop is on at the Imperial Hotel until April 18
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/chimp-cop

Squirrel Comedy’s Recommended and Previously Reviewed Shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015

By Lisa Clark

Well the Squirrels are getting ruffled up and ready for autumn nut collecting. And comedy reviewing. There are soooo many shows on offer at the 2015 Melbourne International comedy Festival and it can be very difficult for us to see everything we want to see, let alone review everything we want to review. For those readers who are planning their Festival schedules and are in need of help, we have some good news: Squirrel Comedy has previously reviewed thirty of this year’s shows and we have laid out links to all those reviews below.

First Up here are some brilliant shows I previously saw & loved but Squirrel Comedy hasn’t reviewed.

I recommend you see:

Claire Hooper’s School Camp

Claire takes us back to school days in a raw & truthful way where nostalgia takes some surprising and dark turns that make this show very special.

Celia Pacquola – Let Me Know How It All Works Out.

Celia’s show about fortune telling and her international lifestyle was another of Celia’s crowd-pleasing corkers.

Barry Nominated last year as word got around it was selling out like hotcakes, so if you weren’t lucky enough to see this gorgeous show better book now.

Denise Scott – Mother Bare

Denise deservedly won the Barry Award last year for her droll and often riotous reflections on motherhood and other aspects of her comedic life.

She’s only doing four shows this year at the fan friendly time of 4.30 Sundays, so get your tickets early.

And now for shows that we have previously reviewed.

Particular highlights this year that I can also recommend include:

Are You Afraid of the Dark by Watson

Watson’s funny and occasionally genuinely scary show is not for those with a nervous disposition or heart condition but my goodness it is a monstrous load of fun. It can only fit smallish audiences into the space at the Old Melbourne Gaol so book early, I hear the first week is booking out fast. Not surprising as this show won Best Comedy at the Melbourne Fringe Festival and considering it is site specific it is one you will have to come to Melbourne to see.

Bart Freebairn Ultra Power Lord

Bart is a comedian at the top of his game just waiting to be discovered by the mainstream. I get the joyful shivers when I see a stand up comedian reach a point where they can host a room and own it keeping everyone rolling with laughter non stop. Bart is there and I hope everyone loves Ultra Power Lord as much as I did at Fringe last year.

Bucket’s List by Sarah Collins starring Justin Kennedy

Buckets List is a whimsical, beautiful and of course very funny tale with a star turn by the amazing Justin Kennedy (who we just don’t see enough of on the circuit any more – I miss him, but if this is the sort of work he’s producing then I’ll forgive his absence). Justin is blessed with the ability to make an audience laugh without saying a word and when I see independent theatre this good I think our major theatre companies should have a good hard look at themselves.

Damian Callinan – The Lost WW1 Diary of Private Paddy Callinan

A perfect show for this anniversary of ANZAC it’s another comedy character tour de force by Damian where truth and tall tales blur with loads of laughs and a streak of darkness. The true spirit of the ANZAC is thoroughly celebrated.

We can’t wait to discover new exciting comedy at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival but meanwhile

Here’s the full list with links of those we reviewed earlier:

The 13–Storey Treehouse

https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=6692

Anthony Jeannot is Unaccept-a-bubble

https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=7985

Bart Freebairn: Ultra Power Lord

https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=7643

Clem Bastow – Escape From LA

https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=7956

Damian Callinan – The Lost WW1 Diary of Private Paddy Callinan

https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=6010