Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015 – Page 22

5 Good Reasons to see Heidi O’Loughlin: A Woman Talking

1) FREE CHAIRS
I don’t wanna start slagging off those other shows in the Festival, but mine definitely has free seating. My producer was super against it, but I want you guys to be comfy, no expense spared.

2) FREE DINNER
*Bring a plate

3) OKAY APPARENTLY ALL SHOWS HAVE CHAIRS
My bad guys. I’ll make it up to you with at least 2 extra good jokes.

4) I DON’T MAKE FALSE PROMISES
My show is called ‘A Woman Talking’, and I can personally guarantee I will deliver on this by being a woman and talking for (up to) one hour.

5) NEW ZEALAND
I’m from New Zealand and normally do that FanFiction show. It can be tough for a foreigner, so I think it’s only right you adopt me like you did with Crowded House and Phar Lap. I will win you the Melbourne Cup before I’m poisoned by Mexicans.

Heidi O’Loughlin A Woman Talking is on at The Tuxedo Cat. For more information and bookings, visit the website:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/a-woman-talking-heidi-o-loughlin

5 Good reasons to see Trygve Wakenshaw: NAUTILUS

1) it’s made by Trygve Wakenshaw who’s previous show KRAKEN absolutely killed it in international festivals where people have class and refined tasted and did moderately well in Perth where people are from West Australia.

2) there’s a great scene in it.

3) it’s nearly entirely mimed. No more having to listen to some hack stand-up comedians telling jokes.

4) it will make you feel cool to be one of the first people in the world to see this show.

5) it’s quite likely to be nominated for a Barry Award (judging by Trygve’s track record).

Trygve Wakenshaw: NAUTILUS is on at The Tuxedo Cat. For Bookings and information go to the website:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/nautilus-trygve-wakenshaw

5 Good Reasons to see: DR PROFESSOR NEAL PORTENZA – Catchy Show Title

1. It’s interactive, but not in the frightening ‘OMFG DON’T LET HIM LOOK AT ME’ kind of way. More in the ‘I USE THE AUDIENCE TO CREATE UNIQUE MOMENTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT’ and ‘OH COOL WE HAVE ALL THE POWER’ way.

2. It’s extremely fun. Less fun than the first time you tried a Nintendo Wii, but more fun than the following activities:
Being stung by a bee/bees
Staring into the sun for 6 minutes because your older cousin Jake convinced you it’s good for your health when you were four
Waiting for your indecisive friend to decide between a Pad Thai or a Chilli Thai Basil Beef Stir-Fry at your local Thai restaurant
Food poisoning
Rollerblading on a gravelly surface

3. If you’ve never seen a Neal Portenza show, it’s like having a brain explosion fired from a comedy laser beam. If you have seen a Neal Portenza show, there are a host of new characters, and retrospective apologies for the aforementioned brain explosion.

4. Once, during a performance in Edinburgh, I made a girl laugh so hard that she had to be hospitalised for rupturing something in her stomach. This sounds made up, but isn’t, and though I feel awful, I also feel powerful for using the power of comedy to hospitalise someone. She’s fine now.

5. It’s a unique, interactive, funny, bizarre, original and fun experience. If everything goes according to plan, and occasionally when it doesn’t (because it mostly doesn’t) then you should leave with sore cheeks from laughing. Comedy is subjective though, and you may not like my show. I’m honest like that. In that sense, it’s like gambling. You can put $23 on red at the local casino, or you can take a $23 punt on a maniacal idiot. Either way, you’re probably not getting that $23 back. Thank-you for your time and have a prosperous life.

DR PROFESSOR Neal Portenza performs his Catchy Show Title at the Melbourne Town Hall
For Bookings and information go to the website:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/catchy-show-title-dr-professor-neal-portenza-s

5 Good Reasons to see Susie Youssef’s Owl Eyes On You

1) MICF will see the World Premiere of Susie Youssef’s second solo show, Owl Eyes On You

2) Last year she stormed the fest with her debut show, Sketchual Chocolate, and critics said –
‘This girl knows her skit.’ Herald Sun

‘Hallmarks of a Tina Fey production.’ The Age

‘Sketch comedy is such a hard thing to do right, but Susie Youssef has nailed it.’ The Music

3) Susie was the lead actor in the Hayloft Project’s The Boat People which won Best On Stage at the FBi SMAC Awards this year

4) It’s a rare sketch/stand-up hybrid show like no other

5) Her Dad said “It’s unique and refreshing entertainment and will leave you wanting more” – and Susie’s Dad is an honest dude.

Susie Youssef is performing Owl Eyes On You at ACMI – Games Room

For Bookings and information see the MICF website:

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/owl-eyes-on-you-susie-youssef

Five Good Reasons to see Carita Farrer Spencer – Larry Paradiseo and The Fabulous Dame Farrar Live at The Galleon

1. You get to see TWO amazing shows for the price of ONE?!

2. This show features seriously funny comedy combined with fantastic live music ranging from Marvin Gaye, to Opera.

3. You can kick back with a glass of wine and watch this show in the uber chilled surrounds of St Kilda’s famous cafe – The Galleon. (It’s not usually open at night and I’m the only one performing there during the MICF, so it’s a bit spesh!)

4. There are plenty of reviewers and Facebook fans who’ll vouch for how good this show is.

5. A woman dressed as a man, cracking onto women, is always worth a look.

Larry Paradiseo and The Fabulous Dame Farrar are performing Live at The Galleon StKilda
For bookings and information visit the MICF site:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/live-at-the-galleon-st-kilda-larry-paradiseo-the-fabulous-dame-farrar

5 Good Reasons to see JOEL OZBORN Be Here Now

1. By coming to my show ‘Be Here Now’, you’ll have the opportunity to one day say, “Yeah, well I was lucky enough to see Joel Ozborn back in 2015 when he was performing in the Pizza Room at the Forum Theatre, if you can believe it! I feel like one of those people who got to see the Beatles perform in the Cavern before they took off into the stratosphere!”

2. My previous solo shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have all sold out! Ok, admittedly I was only doing Monday nights, however after having shared the stage in Melbourne numerous times with Akmal and Arj Barker, this’ll be your first opportunity to see me in my full solo run here in Melbourne. (Note: I’ll be taking Monday nights off this time.)

3. I’ll be taking more risks in this show than ever before. I can’t give away too much as I don’t want to ruin any surprises, however I’m excited to say I will be revealing for the first time ever on stage my big lifetime achievement!

4. Here’s a review from the last time I was in Melbourne “He’s disarming; he’s accessible without being common; articulate and clever without being smug… bloody funny.” THE AGE. But don’t take their word for it, come see for yourself!

5. If you don’t like laughing, observational and physical comedy, insightful storytelling, and an all round great night of comedy, then don’t come to my show.

Joel Ozborn is performing Be Here Now at The Forum Theatre

For Bookings and Information see MICF website:

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/be-here-now-joel-ozborn