REVIEW: Jim Jefferies in Brisbane: Crude, Rude, and hilariously unapologetic

From doomed moustaches to the great Aussie ‘drop bear’ prank, Aussie comic Jim Jefferies served a cocktail of wit and audacity, at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall for his “One night Only show” on Sunday.

There’s no skirting around the fact that Jim Jefferies is as audacious as they come. Crude? Definitely. Rude? Without a doubt.

But few can deny the Aussie comedian‘s uncanny ability to command an audience, making them keel over with uncontrollable fits of laughter.

Sunday night witnessed the Australian comic genius at his irreverent best, as Jefferies delivered a sold-out performance at The Fortitude Music Hall.

Jim Jefferies 'One Night Only' show at the Fortitude Music Hall. Photo: Fortitude Music Hall.

Returning to Brisbane after the roaring success of his 2022 tour, which remarkably sold out not one but two shows at the Brisbane Convention Centre, expectations were sky-high.

But the comedian, riding high on the success of his 10th stand-up special, ‘High & Dry’, not only met but surpassed expectations.

In an age where comedy is increasingly walking on eggshells Jefferies’ brand of comedy is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended, he boldly steers into controversies.

No one was safe — from his parents, John Cleese, even the Queen, and most amusingly, his own wife, Tasie Lawrence, who he married back in 2020.

Comedian Jim Jeffries.

Australian comedian Jim Jeffries.

Jefferies‘ trademark style – unafraid to jab at himself or controversial topics – was evident throughout the night.

The evening’s fare ranged from the absurdity of actor stereotypes, to Jefferies‘ hilarious take on how Hitler single-handedly doomed the tiny moustache trend.

Jefferies swerved into his views on the LGBTQ+ community, sprinkling his set with his unique brand of humour.

Jim Jefferies on stage at the Fortitude Music Hall on Sunday August 13.

Yet, it wasn‘t all shock and awe.

With an adept switch of gears, Jefferies took us down memory lane, exploring the simple joys of the Ekka show bags and the universal appeal of the Bertie beetle – the elusive, “terrible carob-like chocolate filled with honey comb and/or smashed glass”.

The comedian also took his deep dive into the quintessentially Australian ‘drop bear’ prank.

For the uninitiated, the ‘drop bear’ is a fictitious Australian creature designed to pull a fast one on gullible tourists and children.

Jefferies regaled the audience with a hilariously detailed account of how he introduced his British wife to this iconic prank, painting a vivid scene of him and his filming crew tricking his wife into believing these mythical creatures were a genuine threat.

“We‘re the only nation that has a practical joke we all agree on, that everyone has to do,” he said with pride.

“We have decided as a society that if you see someone doing the drop bear thing with a child, as an Australian you walk by and confirm it, in fact, it‘s your duty.”

Despite the majority of the jokes hitting the mark, there were a few that didn’t resonate as strongly, especially given Jefferies’ penchant for challenging boundaries. Yet, even with these few misses, the audience was treated to over an hour of robust laughter.