By Lisa Clark & Colin Flaherty
The 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back bigger than ever and the Squirrels are here to help you chose which shows to spend your money and time on. There are shows that we have already seen and also some intriguing shows that have piqued our interest.
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED
A number of MICF shows have run prior to the festival and we have already reviewed some of these. We’ll give the usual disclaimer that Festival shows are ever evolving beasts, so the show’s we have covered may have undergone changes (hopefully for the better!) since we saw them.
Alanta Colley Parasites Lost
Lisa reviewed her at the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10549
You can book at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/parasites-lost
Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night
This is Lisa’s review from last year:Â https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9937
Book your tickets at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/ali-mcgregor
ApocOlympics
Here’s Colin’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10580
Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/apocolympics
Cindy Salmon’s Empowerment Hour by Hayley Tantau
Here’s Elyce’s review at the 2016 Meloburne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10575
Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/cindy-salmon-s-empowerment-hour
Cull
Read Colin’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10470
Bookings details can be found at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/cull
Gabe Hogan:Â Â Making Life a Double
Lisa’s review from the 2016 Melbourne Fringe is at https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10491
Bookings details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/making-life-a-double
Isabel Angus Presents Bliss
Here’s Lisa’s review of the 2016 Melbourne Fringe performance: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=10515
Bookings can be made at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/isabel-angus-presents-bliss
Late Night Letters and Numbers
This late night show was reviewed in 2013 by Lisa: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3846
Booking details can be found at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/late-night-letters-and-numbers
Mighty Little Puppet ShowÂ
The 2016 MICF show was reviewed by Lisa is: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9929
Book your tickets at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/the-might-little-puppet-show
Political AsylumÂ
A now annual fixture of MICF, Elice’s review is here: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=3785
Bookings can be made at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/political-asylum-s-late-night-riot
Soothsayers: Completely Improvised Shakespeare
Lisa’s review from the 2015 Melbourne Fringe is here” https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9433
Booking details are at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/completely-improvised-shakespeare
RECOMMENDED
The Bugle Live
This is the first ever live version of Andy Zaltzman’s podcast. It promises live guests, people on screens, freshly-hewn satire, lies, puns and high-grade bullshit. Sounds like tonnes of fun. (You can see his own standup show too, sold separately)
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/the-bugle-live
Daniel Kitson…Â
The last time Daniel performed here in 2015 it was with his astonishing, gorgeous, experimental play Polyphony. It involved 20 pre-recorded characters (played by actors and comedians) on MP3players being played by audience members. I was lucky enough to see it towards the end of the run, on a night when it all ran beautifully and it blew my mind. If audience participation was the comedy trend, Daniel fashioned it into couture art. We’ve missed out on a lot of his finished shows in Melbourne over the past ten years but he’s making up for it by giving us Three types of Kitson, including a filmed show we never got to see.
1. Stories For The Starlit Sky with Gavin Osbourne
Actually 3 plays in one (of his 3 shows). It will be long, why not bring a packed lunch? 3 of his delightful heartwarming and funny stories from Daniel with Gavin on the Guitar.
Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne – 2nd to 23rd April
(Various Dates and Times) https://goo.gl/AVrCLX
2. Not Yet But Soon – A Work in Progress Stand up Show.
Well its another work in Progress, but having done it in Sydney before Melbourne it should be fairly well formed. An hour and a half, but knowing Daniel probably longer. Its mostly on late too, 10 pm so have a little nap during the day.
Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne – March 30th to April 16th  (Various dates and times)- https://goo.gl/bry3Tv
3. It’s Always Right Now Until It’s Later – On Film
A 7 year old show we never got to see in Australia, but here it is preserved forever on film and Daniel will be there to introduce it.
 Palace Westgarth Northcote – April 18th, 19th – 7pm – https://goo.gl/jVA2N3
Infectious
A comedy night for charity produced by our own Erin Davidson and we can promise you she has organised a cracker of a lineup. Names she cannot name, but some of the top names in Australian comedy and this may be the only place during the festival you get to see some of them. Also you get to laugh for a good cause.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/a-night-of-infectious-laughter-2
Josh Earl & Daniel Tobias: Josh Earl’s Festival  Â
Josh has hooked up with Daniel from Die Roten Punkte and they promise famous guest stars in this mini comedy music festival. I’ve had a bit of a taste of this one and it has got my mouth watering for more.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/josh-earl-s-festival-1
Michael Williams: Escape from a 90s Educational CD-ROM!
One of the recipients of this year’s Moosehead Grants, you can always be rely upon Williams to present an inventive and hilarious show. Last year he was one of our favourites, with the added Moosehead creative seal of approval, this is sure to be a doozy!
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/escape-from-a-90s-educational-cd-rom
Sammy J: Hero ComplexÂ
Hero Complex was the Talk of Melbourne Fringe and the talk was: “Have you Seen it? You HAVE TO SEE IT!!!” We were so glad we did. It won Best Comedy Show at Melbourne Fringe 2016 and has just won the first Weekly Award for comedy at Adelaide Fringe 2017. It is side achingly hilarious, and face hurtingly joyous. It’s better to go in knowing as little as possible; yes it is about Sammy J’s love for The Phantom but also about much, much more.
Bookings:Â https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/hero-complex
A Visit With Nan In A Caravan
Five audience members – in one caravan – with three spiteful old grannies – for 15 minutes. These terrifying characters by Thomas Jaspers, Kyle Minall and Scott Brennan will be more so in such close quarters and sure to be hilarious.
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/caravan
Watson: Go To Hell!
After scaring the stuffing out of laughing audiences at the Old Melbourne Gaol during the 2015 Melbourne Fringe, Watson (Adam McKenzie, Liam Ryan and Tegan Higginbotham) return with a show of frights and laughs. Another Moosehead recipent so expectations are high.
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017/shows/go-to-hell
View the entire Comedy Festival program at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2017, so get out and start booking tickets!