Posts tagged stand-up
RAW: Bart Freebairn – A Breathtakingly Magical Journey into the Ordinary
Mar 15th
Life doesn’t always turn out as we had wished as a kid. Which is probably a good thing as if it had most of us Gen Y guys would be either Transformers or Ninja Turtles and Prince Charles would be Camilla’s tampon. Realising that he had no magic powers of his own, Bart Freebairn seeks to find magic in the world around him, learning some harsh lessons about how the real world works along the way.
Incredibly thoughtful, often insightful and continuously witty, Bart’s show is not the joke-a-second gig that some look for. That didn’t worry me. His jokes are incredibly funny – well set up and nicely delivered; the narrative in between engaging and thoughtful. Taboo topics are tackled bravely and irreverently in a show that could best be summed up as a delightful deviation from the real world for a while.
Oh, and his show is opened by a real wizard.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.75K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Pony Club @ Tuxedo Cat
Mar 15th
What is the Pony Club?
Pony Club is a gig run by the incredible Hannah Gadsby in which a bunch of comedians run amuck for an hour of improvisation, singing, dancing, stand-up and impressions. Like a kind of wheels-fell-off theatre sports, this show had the audience literally crying with laughter.
Check out the final Pony Club line-up: Hannah Gadsby, Adam Hills, Amelia Jane Hunter, Damian Callinan, Deanne Smith, David Smiedt, Dave Bloustien, and Rebecca De Unamuno! All in the one improv show! All of these comedians were at the top of their game, revelling in this fantastic opportunity to just be silly.
For a great night out, make sure you catch a Pony Club at the next Fringe and please give a generous donation at the door. Pony Club – mad bang for your buck. Late night comedy at its finest!
Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Dave Bloustein’s Complete History of Western Philosophy @ Tuxedo Cat (Attic)
Mar 5th
*Unfortunately, our reviewer was sent into the wrong show on a preview night. He was supposed to see Tommy Little’s Afterthoughts this night, but was ushered upstairs to the Attic to the wrong room. Tuxedo Cat, please take note.* -Ed
About as funny as it sounds, sadly.
This show essentially feels like a lecture run by a kind of goofy professor. His knowledge of his material is impressive, and his jokes aren’t bad. The problem is that they are too few and far between. There are several moments in the show that are genuinely funny, and his closing is solid. It’s a shame that this standard is not maintained throughout the performance.
If you’re looking for intellectually stimulating material, this may be right up your alley. For the rest of us tho, this act is as it sounds – smart, but not that funny.
If you’re going to see this show, catch it toward the end of its run. Given time to find its feet, this show will improve with age.
Kryztoff Rating: 2.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Lindsay Webb – Hurry Up Jesus
Feb 20th
So wasn’t sure what to expect from this show, was it going to be a bible bash to the head or a guy just waiting on stage for the J man.
Lucky for me it was neither. Lindsay Webb essentially picked up the bible (and all things religious) and poked hole after hole in it. Sure it’s an insensitive show if you are a devoted Christian (esp. Catholic or Mormon), but for those of us going to the heathen already, it’s a great laugh.
Engaging, Lindsay pushes the boundaries of religion, but actively gauges our response and never steps the line.
Genuinely funny, Lindsay managed to keep it to an hour – he’s the Guinness World Record Holder for Longest Stand Up Show by an Individual at a cool 38hrs & 6min! Lucky he’s funny, else that would have been torture for the audience. 
>> Catch Hurry Up Jesus at the Maid, just out of the city at Magill & Payneham Roads, before 14th March to catch this funny fella!
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Francesca Martinez
Feb 18th
More social commentator than comedian, Martinez performs at the humble art space: Tuxedo Cat – Attic.
Amusing as her commentary about being ‘wobbly’ (she has cerebral palsy) and her life to date is, the show only manages a couple of giggles. She engages the audience well enough, as her material somewhat universal. However, she seems overly reliant on her ‘condition’ to see the show through.
The show feels more like you’re sitting with Martinez at a cafe, having a coffee and chatting about her life. Her stories often take a tangent, but she always returns to the main thread of conversation.
On until 7th March, I would have expected more laughs from this star, who has starred in Ricky Gervais’ Extras and appeared at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Kryztoff Rating: 2.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe