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Melbourne Comedy Festival 2017: Our picks of the four-stars-plus comedians

COMEDIANS have warmed up their material and are taking to the stage puns blazing. These are the best of this week’s 4.5 and 5 star Comedy Festival reviews.

Heckled comics

THE Melbourne International Comedy Festival is in full swing.

So too is this year’s swath of acclaimed, award-winning and absurdly amusing comedians.

We’ve seen blokes being manhandled on stage, comics breaking bones and brain wrestling, and laughed our way through Bachelor jokes, bathtub serenades and Uber fart jokes.

Comedians have well and truly warmed up their material, ironed out any kinks so their shows are as smooth, sharp, witty and wonderful as ever. These are the best of the feast according to this weeks reviews:

5 STARS

Damien Power is in five-star Utopia.
Damien Power is in five-star Utopia.

DAMIEN POWER: UTOPIA: NOW IN 3D

Reviewer Mikey Cahill says: “There’s a reason he’s a two-time Barry Award nominee ... Power loads his shows with meaning and metaphysical ideas leaving you and your coterie plenty to chew on after he’s done.” ACMI, until April 23.Buy tickets here.

4.5 STARS

Becky Lucas is fresh, filthy and uber funny.
Becky Lucas is fresh, filthy and uber funny.

BECKY LUCAS, LITTLE BITCH

Reviewer Mikey Cahill says: “It’s a caustic, knowing hour of self-deprecating, original, filthy stand-up. More for the backpack crowd than the backpackers, although everyone will be able to get on board and hoot and holler and laugh until the housemates come home.” Victoria Hotel, until April 23. Buy tickets here

Aunty Donna are pulling up their Big Boy pants.
Aunty Donna are pulling up their Big Boy pants.

AUNTY DONNA: BIG BOYS

Reviewer Mikey Cahill writes: Routines on supermarket acquaintance bump-ins, Uber fart-jokes and Sanity vouchers all had the crowd howling for more ... Big Boys is ribald and riotous. Tickets are hotter than Aunty Donna (the act, not your dad’s randy sister). Max Watt’s, until April 23. Buy tickets here.

A beautiful swan song for this Aussie comedy darling.
A beautiful swan song for this Aussie comedy darling.

HANNAH GADSBY: NANETTE

Reviewer Ian Royall says: “This is a show that delivers much intellectual heft, that evolves gags into stories with real meaning. Sure, at times it did sometimes feel a bit like a rally — but it was a rage against the awfulness of the world.” Melbourne Town Hall until April 23.Buy tickets here.

Straight shooting comedy that’s as quick as a bullet.
Straight shooting comedy that’s as quick as a bullet.

SAM SIMMONS

Reviewer Nui te Koha says: “The opening monologue, and character, feels like a test before Simmons unleashes a barrage of very snappy, really funny material. A-K, loaded with shorter jokes, is definitely Simmons at his sharpest. Forum Theatre, until April 23. Buy tickets here.

The cult of Portenza is weird, wonderful and completely wacky.
The cult of Portenza is weird, wonderful and completely wacky.

NEAL PORTENZA: P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A.

Reviewer Michael Ward writes: Portenza will throw anything into the mix for a laugh: silly dancing, daft songs, loony poetry, physical comedy, crap props, absurd characters, anecdotes about sprinkling coriander down his underpants. The Comedy Zone, Old Council Chambers, Trades Hall, until April 23. Buy tickets here.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/comedy-festival/melbourne-comedy-festival-2017-our-picks-of-the-fourstarsplus-comedians/news-story/3324f365b81471c66e4f4b2321cac0e3