Comfest news and reviews

[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!

[sharleen]

by scary, Alisso means Steve Hall from We are Klang getting naked on the Gala.

If you go and see their show (We are Klang), you can also see him talk out of his arse. And perhaps you'll be as lucky as me, and get to insult them over the microphone from the audience. Start thinking insults now - not be lame like me and call Marek a "goggle-eyed goon". But seriously, great show - worth seeing. Its got music, wrongness, hilarious characters and a real edge. They cannot be boiled down as purely "like Tripod, but you would never let them meet your mum". The only show thats made me cry and almost fall off my seat laughing.

Speaking of naked (its nudity abounds this year!), go and see Phil Nichols' 'The Naked Racist'. Yes, it features nudity and racism, but the show also has music, sentiment, morals and love and its performed manically by the comedy genius that is Phil Nichol. Left little doubt in my mind why it won best show in Edinburgh last year.

[Mythor]

I was going to make a subforum for news/reviews but there seems so little interest lately, didn't see the point.

Will sticky this thread though for people to blather on in. Have fun all you 'Fest-y people! :P

[awaywithfairies]

Are the Scardies doing Superband this year? I don't remember seeing it in the programme...

I also heard something about Mark Watson doing a 24 hour show this year. Any news on when/where?

[Funk You]

Probably no-one's really talked about Comfest this year so far because there wasn't a place to put it yet

[Mythor]

Originally Posted by Funk You

Probably no-one's really talked about Comfest this year so far because there wasn't a place to put it yet

There's been an MICF 2007 folder for a great many months.

[Mythor]

I can confirm that the Gala will be airing next Monday night, 8.30-10.30pm on Channel 10. My god, it's not 7 months late for once!

(I've also added a prominent link on the front page to the MICF folder, for the exceptionally dense. )

[TimChuma]

My reviews for this year's comedy festival here:
http://timchuma.com/micf2007/index.htm

Will try to review the shows as soon as I get home, but I will see how I go. I will definitely try and hand on my reviews in person to the people if I see them on the street (Janet is very good for this though) and will try to sit up the front for every show if I get a choice where to sit.

I don't think I am going to be taking photos at the Burlesque Hour any more as I am having a rest from photography and I don't have any hard disk space at the moment.

Thanks.

[hails]

i know it's expensive, and i know it's not stand up, but if you can, go see puppet up. it's insanely good. the whole thing is improv with puppets and these folks are masters of the craft. i was hurting afterwards from laughing so hard. DO IT

after puppet up, me and some friends o' mine ended up at trades, where a lovely young chap came up to us and started chatting about his show. ended up giving us free tickets, hurrah! i was a bit skeptical at first, but, for their first year at fest, he and his friends do an awesome gig. if tripod were just starting out and very political, this is what HOORAY FOR EVERYTHING would be. fun songs about politics and lots of band member banter. we loves it, we does. only $15 at trades hall, so it's super cheap and well worth it

[unfrufru]

yeah i saw puppet up in sydney and almost shit myself laughing.

r rated muppets. oh so wrong

[lily]

Originally Posted by hails

i know it's expensive, and i know it's not stand up, but if you can, go see puppet up. it's insanely good. the whole thing is improv with puppets and these folks are masters of the craft. i was hurting afterwards from laughing so hard. DO IT

after puppet up, me and some friends o' mine ended up at trades, where a lovely young chap came up to us and started chatting about his show. ended up giving us free tickets, hurrah! i was a bit skeptical at first, but, for their first year at fest, he and his friends do an awesome gig. if tripod were just starting out and very political, this is what HOORAY FOR EVERYTHING would be. fun songs about politics and lots of band member banter. we loves it, we does. only $15 at trades hall, so it's super cheap and well worth it

Oi, you were at Trades and didn't come and say hi? Bitch.

[asher tea]

hey some one mentioned Mark watsons 24 hour show, well it will be in the umbrella revolution on the 22nd starting at, If you've been to one of these shows before, you'll know they are quite good fun really, and also, from a professional point of view, my pride and joy. I'd like nothing better than for this one to be successful. Obviously, it will be a shambles, they always are. But a successful shambles. That's what I'm after. Please spread the word.


MARK'S 24 HOUR SHOW
UMBRELLA REVOLUTION
BEGINS A MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY, APRIL 22
TILL THE SAME TIME NEXT DAY

also dont beleive
SIMONE UBALDI, she dosent like anyone or anything

[Alec Fry]

Hello Alisso.
Glad to know that you came to our show.
The 2 preview nights were lucky for us, as we needed them for some re-work and tweaking of the props and show structure. Last night (and also Thu) was a vast improvement on our 2 preview shows.
I'd like to extend an invite for you to attend (as our guest) to one of the nights we have left, it is a vast improvement on what you saw.
We'll put your name (well, "Alisso" anyway) down on the free door list.
(unless you are a Participant and hence free anyway).
Regards,
Alec

[hails]

Originally Posted by lily

Oi, you were at Trades and didn't come and say hi? Bitch.

ooooh, are you working around trades? or just there seeing shows or something? coz i'd definitely come up and say hi if i knew you were there i'm in town for another week and a bit so i'll swing past sometime. besides, trades is the new hifi, so the past few nights i've pretty much been living there *s*

[Funk You]

Originally Posted by Mythor

(I've also added a prominent link on the front page to the MICF folder, for the exceptionally dense. )

Well it wasn't very obvious, (wrong colours & such) so thanks.