Comedy Festival 2018: Carl Donnelly’s Peruvian tea a bland brew in The Nutter On The Bus ★★

STORIES of psychotropic experimentation with Peruvian tea might sound like interesting fodder for a narrative comedy, but this is a disappointingly bland brew.

IF A comedian introduces himself as “a storyteller”, there’s a certain expectation from an audience that some pretty cracking stories might be in the offing.

Stories that have a clever narrative structure, perhaps. Stories full of surprises or twists building to a killer punchline. If there are multiple tales, perhaps they might cleverly tie together to underline an over-arching theme. There might be jokes along the way. The performer might bring his characters to life, physically acting them out and providing a range of funny voices.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE COMEDY FESTIVAL

GILLIAN ENGLISH: GIANT AND ANGRY WITH GOOD REASON

UK comedian Carl Donnelly is a likeable performer with an affable stage presence. Unfortunately, the comic tales that make up his show are not so much ha ha as ho hum.

These stories are really only at the level of amusing anecdotes you might tell over a pint down the pub, much less the basis for a 60-minute show.

Carl Donnelly in The Nutter On The Bus.

Nutter on the Bus arises from Connelly’s divorce and subsequent attempt to regain some equilibrium. He chose to explore alternative therapies, among them experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs. As you do after divorce.

Is there an engaging, hilarious story in two dunderheads brewing up huge pots Peruvian tea – ordered online and said to be “the most hallucinogenic substance on Earth” – in their kitchen?

Not in Donnelly’s hands there isn’t.

Hunter S. Thompson, this ain’t. Donnelly’s trip – like his tale – is something of a damp squib. There is no psychedelic journey, no incredible personal insight and few laughs. Not much happens beyond vomiting.

JOEL CREASEY TELLS ALL IN THIRSTY

BEST OF LAST YEAR’S TOP-RATED COMICS

Oddly, the comedian has a habit of prefacing what he’s about to say with phrases like: “This is in my top five conversations ever” or “here’s a funny story about how little patience I have with my mum”. I’m not sure what is to be gained by telling an audience that what they’re about to hear is supposed to be funny. Shouldn’t the audience be the judge? Comically, I don’t see how setting up an audience like this can improve a joke.

Sure, the audience laughed in all the right spots throughout and Donnelly is a relaxed and easy-going performer, but Nutter on the Bus needs more jokes, and crucially, better stories. Alas, it wasn’t my cup of tea, psychedelic or otherwise.

Carl Donnelly, The Nutter on the Bus

Chinese Museum, 22 Cohen Place, Melbourne until April 22

comedyfestival.com.au