Comedy Festival 2018: Hughesy, Becky Lucas, Nath Valvo light up The Gala
MALE feminism is fair game at MICF’s The Gala, knocking a potato dumpling not so. Some things remain sacred in Melbourne, even when it’s all for charity.
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WORD to the wise for all acts at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, have a go at religion, beloved celebrities, PC culture, anti-PC culture … whatever you like, just don’t diss spud dumplings in this town.
It’s a lesson that was learned early in the evening by Gala host Matt Okine, whose rant about potato variations he’s not a fan of built from boos to a near-riot when he went after gnocchi. Comedians, consider the line drawn.
The bearded and besuited Okine stuck to his guns though and did manage to win everyone back, handling hosting duties for the nation’s biggest comedy event of the year with aplomb, his high-energy and winning charm even turning his Oxfam plug flubs into gold.
MUST READ: COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE COMEDY FESTIVAL
HUGHESY SHOCKED BY WIFE’S SEX CONFESSION
Of the many acts delivering a taste of what’s to come over the next few weeks, best on ground was the supremely confident Becky Lucas, bringing a welcome ray of darkness to proceedings in the second half, sunnily reminiscing on her lifetime of negativity and taking out the (highly competitive) best male feminist gag of the night category.
The crowd response award was sealed early in the proceedings by Nath Valvo, whose well-honed and remarkably physical retelling of a miserable time spent trying to be supportive at his partner’s triathlon went down an absolute storm. Joel Creasey wasn’t miles behind with his cautionary tale of showing off a little too much at the Officeworks self-printing station.
Of the established locals, Sam Simmons appears to be in fine and feisty fettle as he toyed with some inappropriate impressions, Tom Gleeson’s Wiggles routine went from meh to mighty through sheer force of furious anger while Hughesy — you’ll be shocked to hear — riffed on household appliances and his kids. Good on him.
Locals acquitting themselves well on Gala debut included the ever-charming Geraldine Hickey lamenting her dentist — as opposed to dental — issues and Dane Simpson delightfully delivering a short story via didgeridoo.
Also on the male feminist train was Luke Heggie, whose reminiscing about what used to constitute “real men” hit the spot, while Cal Wilson entertainingly explained why she is not a fan of a certain F-word but is fairly obsessed with how slut sounds.
Of the big internationals, Rich Hall’s customary front-row couple serenade gained a full backing band but seemingly lost a few gags, Arj Barker riffed on being newly married with his shouty Zen-master schtick and some truly bad pants, while South Africa’s Loyiso Gola is back and still marvelling at just how surreally white Australia manages to be.
Other internationals showing promise: Phil Wang from Malaysia (via the UK) and his alleged efforts to be a male feminist (told you it was a highly competitive category), compatriot Douglas Lim who managed to get solid laughs from a Shrine of Remembrance bit which is no mean feat, and Londoner Carl Donnelly who has returned to Melbourne with some fresh divorce papers and plenty of thoughts on the myth of “the one”.
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Cabaret fans were treated to the all-male revue Briefs, who kicked proceedings off in some style as they pumped up the jam with feathers and fluorescence, while New York’s Lady Rizo displayed some impressive pipes and glove munching which boded well for her “American apology tour”.
Towards the close, Dave Thornton had a very clever queue gag that was worth waiting for, Jeff Green painted a memorable picture of Melbourne’s ‘cauldron of chaos’ freeways before Urzila Carlson closed things out with some cancer-test gear that she was, of course, able to make a lot funnier than you might expect.
So, in summary: male feminism yes, knocking gnocchi no. Some things remain sacred in this town, even when it’s all for a good cause.
To donate to Oxfam go to oxfam.org.au
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