Squirrel Comedy – Page 3 – We're Nuts About Australian Comedy

Lauren Pattison: Big Girl Pants

By Ron Bingham

This year’s show from Lauren, Big Girl’s Pants, is all about her turning 30 and attempting to be more courageous in her life. The examples of courage include learning to drive (after over 180 hours of lessons), standing up to some rowdy hecklers at a comedy gig, and going in for an intimate check-up. There is also the story of her best friend’s courageous decision to seek help for a medical condition.

The stories are told in, as always, her delightful Newcastle accent, at a fast pace and peppered liberally with jokes and wry observations on life. The check-up story may be considered a little too gruesome for some gentlemen, but that’s par for the course. As someone who once had a biopsy on their neck, I can only feel a wave of sympathy after hearing where Lauren had hers done! The show is packed full of stories, side-stories and comic vignettes, and these are interlaced with moments of sadness and poignancy.

The room was full and is probably selling out, but if you’re quick, you can always hope to be one of the lucky punters getting one of the five or so “walk up” seats available each day. Every time I see Lauren perform, I am impressed with her growth as a storyteller and comedian.

Big Girl Pants is on at Monkey Barrel Comedy until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lauren-pattison-big-girl-pants

Arthur Smith and Phil Nice in OOF!

By Ron Bingham

Forty years ago, Arthur and Phil were a double act. Then Arthur went solo and Phil raised a family. Now, they are back together reminiscing about the old days, working through old wounds, playing with words and contemplating the ageing process and their lives together and apart.

The show starts with Arthur sitting on a park bench (on stage) reading the newspaper, and Phil joining him. From here, we are led on a journey through the minds and memories of two old stagers looking back on their lives and trying to decide if it was all worth the effort (yes, it was). Lots of wordplay, some physical humour and a little bit of a language lesson, this was a delightful hour playing to a full house of, mostly, people who had been carried along on part of Phil and Arthur’s journeys from their seats.

The explosive rift in the middle of the show was rather abrupt and painful, but possibly also cathartic for the performers. A well written and performed hour long reminiscence from two old hands, geared towards people who know who they are. Loved the music playing over the end – Simon and Garfunkel’s Old Friends.

Arthur Smith and Phil Nice in OOF! is on at Pleasance Courtyard
until August 18

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/arthur-smith-and-phil-nice-in-oof

Rat Mass

By Colin Flaherty

Welcome to The Church of Ratology. Pastors Perry and Joseph are here to guide and instruct in our devotion to the rat. With enough prayer and devotion, you too can evolve like our rattus brothers.

We are each handed a running order booklet upon entry. The performance is structured like a church service with sermon, hymn (yes, singular. you’ll be humming it for days), communion (we down “rat juice”), a collection and even baptism for the lucky converts (“rat juice” again).

Some sacraments are given a fun interactive twist. Rosary becomes an eating contest, confession is a game of bingo and the collection gathers items appealing to rats rather than cash.

This isn’t a parody of religion, instead it’s a bizarro world version of a religion. Even though it is mentioned that some terms in the script are carefully worded so as not to offend Christians in the US, there is nothing making fun of churches or their congregations. The service has a kind of silly spiritual euphoria… it’s just focused on rats rather than any deity.

Audience participation is encouraged but you are free to opt out and simply observe. The show certainly works best when everyone is on board but the more challenging acts of devotion are best left to the true believers.

There are some moments that veer into solemnity, explanation or just weird performance art – the complete opposite of a high energy Baptist service. Although we aren’t laughing at every line uttered, the ridiculousness of the situation ensures that we are smiling throughout.

This a unique comedy experience. It’s a silly fun show that fully embodies the spirit of the Fringe.

Rat Mass is on at C ARTS | C venues | C aquila until August 18

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rat-mass

Hygge

By Ron Bingham

This certainly was a delightful change from the usual Three Aussies/Kiwis/Scotsmen/Irish etc grouping.

Our host Nina is a six foot tall black Norwegian who chose to study abroad in England as she loves the football (she mentioned a specific player she fancied – I think he’s captain of Norway and Arsenal – whatever). She chatted to the audience and told us a little about her life in Norway and England, before introducing us to three fellow Norwegian comedians.

Pernille Haaland (I have a flyer of her other Edinburgh show, so I know I spelled that right) was very funny as she spoke about being in her mid-30s, single and having no interest in kids. Hanna (or Hannah) and a man whose name I didn’t catch were both great. Most of the stories focused on Norwegians in and out of their country, and the interesting perceptions people have of Norway.

I get the impression from the show’s poster that the roster of guests changes every day (who knew so many Norwegian comics were hanging round Edinburgh waiting for the call-up?). All the acts were entertaining, the room was sold-out and full of happy people (including some Norwegians). A very entertaining hour all round. Apologies to the acts for not writing their names down.

Hygge is on at Just the Tonic at The Caves until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/hygge

Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows

By Ron Bingham

Another room too small (42 seats, I was told) to fit the audience the act deserves. The theme , The First Three Minutes of Seventeen Shows, is a clever way for Abby to tell her story in a variety of styles rather than a direct retelling.

We started with Abby relaxing the audience hypnotically into a acceptable state before being thrown into the first absurdist piece, entitled “The Vacuum”. From here, we went on a madcap journey through basketball mime, an old man trying parkour, “Scare The Banana” (my favourite) and more. The climax of the show, which started off as an essay on David Sedaris (harsh but fair – [sidenote; I recommend David Sedaris’ audiobooks for relaxing on long journeys]), but ended with Abby describing the trauma that led her to taking up stand up comedy a couple of years ago.

Abby is a very tall person from the USA somewhere in her 30s, who married a Dane and is now living in Denmark. She only started doing stand-up a couple of years ago, but was very confident on stage. Boy I am glad I wasn’t chosen to take part in the audience participation (how DOES one do “the worm”?).

This was the first show I can recall at the Edinburgh Fringe which received a spontaneous standing ovation at the end, so hats off to Abby and her director (who was in the audience). Well structured and a good mix of absurd and poignant. This should be moved to a bigger room, to ensure more people have the joy of watching a terrified fruit.

The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows is on at Pleasance Courtyard
until August 26

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/abby-wambaugh-the-first-3-minutes-of-17-shows

Aerosmith to ZZ Top – The A to Z of Hair Metal with Steve McLean

By Colin Flaherty

Steve McLean has the most apt venue for a show about Hair Metal, the backroom of a Record Store / Cafe. Well…this store doesn’t stock much in the way of metal (instead focusing on Indie Rock) but it certainly gives the show cred!

Despite the title this is not a listical styled show. If you’re expecting Steve to mention your favourite band, there’s a fair chance he won’t mention them. What we get is a collection of stories and jokes about a number of bands and a little about his experiences as a teen when the genre was at its peak.

There’s celebration of his favourites and slagging off those deemed not worthy (Metallica are his punching bag of choice). He provides interesting factoids about the excesses of the era and drools over the primped and preened man-flesh on display with album covers and printed images as visual aids.

This is a very rough and ready show with Steve regularly referring to notes and rummaging through a pile of props. A chatty crowd distracts him and an inaccurate time keeper forces him to edit on the fly. When he does focus it’s a confident and slightly adversarial performance with plenty of laughs to be found, more if you’re a disciple of Metal.

Given the subject matter the target audience is those aged above forty so there are plenty of British pop culture references to confuse the younger folk and foreigners (a comparison of ACDC to comedy duo The Krankies is an especially curious idea). A wonderful show for the old rockers out there.

Aerosmith to ZZ Top – The A to Z of Hair Metal with Steve McLean is on at Slow Progress Cafe and Records until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aerosmith-to-zz-top-the-a-to-z-of-hair-metal-with-steve-mclean