Well, the FINAL nights of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are here! How are you going to spend them? We recommend some of the shows we’ve seen to help you figure out how to close the festival with a bang. All tickets can be purchased here:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
Alice Fraser: The Resistance
Heartfelt and hilarious, Fraser has the remarkable ability to tell a really heartwarming story with a funny twist. We saw her previous show Savages and agree that she is not to be missed.
When: 6pm Where: Old Met Shop, Melbourne Town Hall
Tix: $15 – $25 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/01/31/fringeworld-alice-fraser-savage-4-5-stars/
Gillian Cosgriff: To The Moon and Back
This is absolutely classic comedy. Join Gillian as she conquers her twin fears of marriage and space travel in a truly hilarious show. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you may even face a few of your own fears. Do not miss this one!
When: 6pm (16th April) Where: ACMI The Cube (Southbank)
Tix: $25 – $32 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 5 stars
Lynn-Ruth Miller: This is Your Future
There’s nothing that octogenarian-comedian Lynn-Ruth Miller hasn’t done – and she’ll tell you all about it in this brilliant tell-all show. Think you know all about life? Think again! This is one spit-out-your-drink with laughter kind of show.
When: 7pm Where: The Butterfly Club (off Little Bourke Street)
Tix: $30 – $38 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/03/24/micf-lynn-ruth-miller-this-your-future-4-5/
Matt Okine
Okine’s show details the trials of working in the public eye, with many ‘haters’ messaging the text line and trolling him through his social media streams. Listeners of Triple J will definitely enjoy this show.
When: 7pm (16th April) 6pm (17th April) Where: Melbourne Town Hall
Tix: $25 – $35 Duration: 55 mins Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/03/31/micf-matt-okine-3-5-stars/
Peter and Bambi Heaven: The Magic Inside
We’ve seen the fabulous Asher Treleaven in action before – he’s remarkable. This show is sure to ruffle some feathers but in the end it’s just good, clean, sexy fun!
When: 7pm Sat, 6pm Sun Where: Roxanne
Tix: $25 – $28 Duration: 55 mins
She Was Probably Not a Robot
We have seen the brilliant wordsmith Stuart Bowden a few times, and are always blown away. His gentle spinning of a tale is always so funny, you sometimes have to stop and reflect on just how poignant and heartwarming it really is. Do not miss this one!
When: 7pm (16th April) 6pm (17th April) Where: Cooper’s Malthouse Theatre
Tix: $15 – $27 Duration: 60 mins
Jeeves Verma: He’s Just that Not India
Sydney comedian, Jeeves Verma takes you on a journey from small kid growing up with Indian parents (impressive impressions abound!) to successful comedian – not Doctor or Lawyer as his parents would have liked. This is really personal comedy and it’s worth seeing.
When: 7:15pm Where: Bellville (Globe Alley off Little Bourke Street)
Tix: $10 – $20 Duration: 50 mins Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/04/08/micf-jeeves-verma-hes-just-not-that-india-3-5-stars/
I, Migrant and Other Stories
Sami Shah is a legend in contemporary Australian stand up comedy. We first saw his show Islamafarcist for Perth’s Fringeworld and were blown away by his intellect and the simple yet funny way he dealt with pretty big serious topics.
When: 7:15pm (16th April) 6:15pm (17th April) When: Cooper’s Malthouse
Tix: $20 – $24 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/09/fringeworld-sami-shah-islamofarcist-4-5-stars/
Australia: A Whinging Pom’s Guide
The funny side of Australia. British comedy veteran Dan Willis moved to Australia four years ago. Now he’s got a bag of jokes, experiences and hangovers to share.
When: 8pm (16th April) Where: The Sub Club (33 Elizabeth Street)
Tix: $15 – $20 Duration: 50 mins Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/01/25/fringeworld-australia-whinging-poms-guide-4-stars/
Damian Callinan Swing Man
Damian Callinan set himself a goal of being able to swing dance by the time he turned 50. When his deadline passed and his goal was still out of reach, Callinan decided to do something about it. So, did he eventually master the art of swing dance by 51? I guess you will have to catch his show to find out!
When: 8:15pm (16th April) Where: Cooper’s Malthouse Southbank
Tix: $21 – $30 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/04/14/micf-6-pack-with-damian-callinan/
Daisy Berry Am I Mental?
In a shockingly honest and brave stand-up routine Berry shares the woes of being too tall to be a considered midget yet too short to reach the second item on the top shelf. Highly recommended!
When: 8:30pm (16th April) Where: Highlander (11a Highlander Lane)
Tix: $15 – $20 Duration: 50 mins Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/04/07/micf-daisy-berry-mental-5-stars/
Lady Sings it Better: Here to Save the World
A quartet of clever and talented ladies have pulled together a tight, wowing performance with ‘Here to Save the World’ reaching notes higher than the ceiling and tackling sexism head on- through witty adaptions of male led pop, rock and hip-hip classics.
When: 8:30pm Where: The Butterfly Club (5 Carson Place)
Tix: $28 – $38 Duration: 60 mins Rating: 5 stars
Rama Nicholas: Mary Weather’s Monsters
1800’s London, the height of the gothic era. A time where monsters are constantly threatening the human world… Mary Weather is the city’s greatest hunter but when she is unexpectedly thrown into the monster’s world, Mary is forced to face some demons of her own.
When: 9:30 (16th April) 8:30pm (17th April) Where: Trades Hall
Tix: $18 – $26 Duration: 60 mins
Neal Portenza. Neal Portenza. Neal Portenza. Tracey.
King of the surreal, let Neal Portenza take you on a magical evening of weird and wonderful comedy. We saw him in a different show, but the fare is always the same – bizzare and brilliant!
When: 9:30pm (16th April) 8:30pm (17th April) Where: Melbourne Town Hall
Tix: $18 – $24 Duration: 55 mins Rating: 4.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/08/fringeworld-neal-portenzas-catchy-show-title-4-5/
Parallax Capper
Parallax Capper is Nick Capper’s masterful display of a jokey true life tale of his life. He compares how he has it easy compared to his grandparents, especially his Grandpa who was a war veteran and made a new life in Africa. Meanwhile, Capper deals with First World problems of trying to find the best way to ask a girl out!
When: 9:30pm (16th April) 8:30pm (17th April) Where: Greek Centre (Cnr Lonsdale & Russell Sts)
Tix: $15 – $18 Duration: 55 mins Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/08/fringeworld-parallax-capper-4-stars/
Adrienne Truscott is a One-Trick Pony
Funny lady Adrienne Truscott gives you an evening of hero-worship as she tells the story of her comedy journey – heavily influenced by the legendary Andy Kauffman.
When: 9:45pm (8:45pm Sun) Where: Cooper’s Malthouse, Southbank
Tix: $15 – $27 Duration: 65 mins Rating: 4 Stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/01/23/fringeworld-adrienne-truscotts-one-trick-pony-4-stars/
Calypso Nights: Juan Two?
We first saw the hilarious and unique Juan Vesuvius in a small cabaret act during Perth’s Fringeworld and couldn’t stop laughing. Vesuvius is a DJ extraordinaire and his rendition of an entire Calypso band is so memorable – you’ll still be laughing about it next year!
When: 9:45pm (16th April) 8:45pm (17th April) Where: Roxanne (2 Coverlid Place (off Lt Bourke St, btw Russell & Exhibition Sts)
Tix: $21 – $27 Duration: 60 mins
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/09/fringeworld-marcel-luconts-cabaret-fantastique-4-5-stars/
Piranha Banana: Llamarama
We saw Penny Greenhalgh’s other show, Pop Pop during Perth’s Fringeworld and she did not disappoint. Her humour is pretty quirky and she’s absolutely smashing!
When: 9:45pm (16th April) 8:45pm (17th April) Where: Forum Theatre
Tix: $15 – $20 Duration: 50 mins Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/07/fringeworld-penny-greenhalgh-pop-3-5-stars/
No Show, Ben Russell and Xavier Michelides
These incredibly funny men from Perth have had an amazing track record. With several comedy festivals between them, they’ve teamed up to bring you the incredibly unique but always funny No Show.
When: 11:15pm Where: Imperial Hotel (Cnr Bourke and Spring Streets)
Tix: $15 – $20 Duration: 55 mins
Reviews:
Xavier: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/02/19/fringeworld-xavier-michelides-live-allocated-venue-4-stars/
Ben: https://theaustraliatimes.com/2016/01/25/fringeworld-ben-russell-tokyo-hotel-4-5-stars/
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