Arj Barker in Organic ★★★★

Arj continues to show Australia how much he loves this country in a sharp hour of top-notch comedy we’ve come to expect from the MICF veteran.

Palais Theatre until April 16

ARJ BARKER clearly loves Australia, and Australia loves him back.

Organic is the 10th show Barker has brought to our shores, and his in-depth knowledge of our politics, lifestyle and culture is as good as any local.

It helps him instantly build a rapport with his audience and gets people onside early, as he effortlessly moves through topics such as Uber, dark thoughts in relationships and going gluten-free.

He can turn a phrase like few other comedians, and he continues to create new “Aussie sayings” that have the crowd in fits of laughter.

His trademark delivery accentuates all the right jokes, ranging from mere whispers to unfiltered anger, sometimes all in the same sentence.

Barker’s genius lies in his ability to throw back to punchlines throughout different themes in the show, as he cleverly links a gags to a previous point and the crowd respond with appreciative laughter as they connect the dots.

Paired with his on-point delivery and irresistible charm, it’s clear to see why he continues to sell out crowd venues such as the Palais Theatre.

Organic contains a fairly tight 50-55 minutes of comedy in a 70-minute show, with the only fault being a slight patch towards the end where he fades slightly as he struggles to find a definitive ending to all the material he’s used, which Arj notes as laughter levels tail off slightly.

But overall, Barker natural presence and gusto show he was born to be on stage, and Organic’s new material is evidence of a performer who has mastered his craft.