Review-Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow- Fringe Club
24-7-13
By: Olivia Rosenman
As an Australian myself, I feel many Hong Kongers (locals and expats alike) think getting any five Aussies up on a stage is enough to inspire hysterical laughter in the room, thanks to our apparently hilarious accent. So even better if they’re funny, right? Right.
The four comedians, Kate Mclennan, Tommy Dean, Nazeem Hussain and Frank Woodley, along with charming emcee Daniel Townes, inspired a steady roar of laughter from an appreciative crowd of locals, long term expats and plenty of Australians. And one guy from Connecticut, who learnt a cardinal lesson about stand-up comedy shows: never sit in the comedian’s line of vision. But fate was on his side. The comedians were nothing but nice to those they singled out from the crowd. One poor soul in the front row had his packet of chips grabbed and sniffed not once, but twice, by two different performers, which was kind of weird. But it could have been worse; they didn’t steal even one scrap of potato, so the guy was lucky, it seems.
All of the performers were fresh off the plane to Hong Kong, so most mused on their impressions of the place. Tommy Dean has to win for the most astute Hong Kong commentary: “I feel like I must always be either eating something, or buying something here.” His usual head of semi-wild hair was positively crazed by Hong Kong’ wet heat, which he took well in his stride, commenting on the “120% humidity”. Too true.
An American who’s lived in Australia for more than 20 years, Tommy Dean’s set was possibly more comprehensible to those in the audience who were not Australian. His experience raising a set of identical twins answered a long-held question of mine: yes, even their parents have trouble telling them apart.
Kate Mclennan’s description of regular phonecalls with her parents was a hilarious insight into life in small-country-town Australia. Her facial expressions as she delivers her stand-up are as funny as the words themselves. And people not familiar with Australian culture learnt that young Hong Kongers share all the same important life values of their peers way down south: getting married, buying property and having kids.
And apparently racism is funny - or, more accurately, laughing at the stupidity of racist Australians. Nazeem Hussain’s take on what it’s like being a “brown Muslim” in Australia (his words, not mine) was amusingly depressing for those who’ve seen what he’s talking about. I wondered if non-Australians in the audience would believe that people actually think and talk like that (and wished they’d think it was too ridiculous to be true). His description of his mother as a bully-bribing gang lord should be official advice given to young parents whose kids are having a hard time at school.
Frank Woodley made the most of the Hong Kong setting, talking about his difficulties trying to pick up some basic Cantonese to get around the city. For any gwei lo who has tried their hand at conquering tones, you’ll be beside yourself. He obviously had a lot of energy for the opening night, so much so that he accidentally pinched himself quite hard in the crotch region. The ensuing 3 minutes were possibly the funniest of the entire evening. Not to wish him misfortune, but the way he managed it was so uproarious that I hope he makes the same mistake in the rest of the week’s shows.
The Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow is playing through July 28th at the Fringe Club. For more information, click here.
Comments
No comment at the moment.