[Alisso]

I figure we need a thread for people to post what they've seen and what they thought of it, and news of any newly announced gigs or incidents that should be shared.

Saw the Gala, some great moments and some scary shit *g* It's due to air next Monday, I believe, so watch out for it.

Other shows I've seen include:

One Man Star Wars - funniest for fans, but anyone who saw the original trilogy at some point would get a kick out of this. It's funny just because of the way it's done, and the fact that one man can stand on a stage impersonating a movie and keep a massive theatre full of people occupied *G*

Alec Fry and Doug Chappell are Re-Educating the Planet - Good premise, but the resulting show was a little bit lacking. Not a bad show, some solid material and some good laughs, but it didn't have the punch it could have had, given the title and the topic. Still worth catching if you have the time. It's cheap, it's funny, and the bar is cool *G*

Ed Byrne in Standing Up and Falling Down - Great show, if a little British. References to singers most of the audience had never heard of. Otherwise, extremely amusing, and his plan for bonding through iPods on public transport was fantastic *G* Helps if you've seen the movie "Falling Down" *G*

Fiona O'Loughlin - I personally think Fiona gets better with every passing year. Fantastic show, and when I found out what she did with the Olympic torch in Alice Springs I felt compelled to worship her awesomeness *G*

Umbilical Brothers in Thwack - I think it's a short run, so if you haven't already booked for these guys, you probably won't catch them. Great show, though, typically polished performance. It revisited some classic material, which is never a bad thing from these two, and included some new routines I hadn't seen before, and some great rivalry interaction between them, fighting over the mic and who had written the show *g*

Jimeoin in Nice Touch - Probably worth it just to watch the video footage at the start of his expression while getting a back-crack-and-sack-wax *G* Also for the brilliant song at the end created with a guitar and a mic with an echo effect. Great Jimeoin stand-up as well, including, again, some classic stuff (eyebrows) and some new material (where you keep your memories and thoughts in your field of vision *G*). The explanation of the show title is a corker *g*

Adam Hills in Joymonger - Another glorious show from Hillsy. I don't think I've ever seen him give a truly unimpressive performance. We went on a Sunday night and caught the interpreter for the first time, and that's an experience and a half. Watching Hillsy say something rude then turn to stare at the interpreter and crack up laughing when he sees the signs for what he just said is a lot of fun. It's another upbeat show, although with touches that give you the impression that the state of the world is starting to get to even the nicest and most cheerful man in comedy. But his optimism hasn't entirely failed him, and he brings the show to a nice, hopeful conclusion that is both hilarious and joyously uplifting.

Greg Fleet and Mick Moriarty in Fleetwood Mick - Needs a bit of polishing, I have to say, but the actual show is good. It's still preview week, they are still working on it, but by the end of the run I expect this to be one of the better shows of the festival. A lot of satire, some music, and some spontaneous beat poetry from Fleety. And the Tree Frog song. Which makes me a very happy individual *G*


So far this festival one of my biggest highlights has actually been Festival Club. Friday wasn't quite as good, but Thursday and Saturday nights were both brilliant line-ups of good comics and crazy MCs, with all the madness and malarky that I look forward to seeing at festival club nights. Russell Howard made a brilliant MC - his work with "Warbird" in the front row, and the list of things to do in Melbourne (someone wrote, "visit the evil monkey museum", and had Russell ridiculously excited until he asked us all where it was and got dead silence and some giggles and worked out it didn't really exist *G*) were particularly special - and whoever came up with the idea of getting Jason Byrne and Adam Hills to co-host is a fucking GENIUS...one of the funniest things ever.

Special mention should also go to Phil Nicol, who didn't need to get naked, but did sing "Only Gay Eskimo" and left a lot of happy Corky and the Juicepigs fans in the room, and to Josh Thomas, who showed considerable stage presence and skill for a 19 year old, and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in time.



*gestures to the rest of you* Right, your turn!