It was so gratifying to see so many post-lockdown, fatigued Melburnians out and about last Saturday night.

Trams chockers, restaurants and pubs spilling out onto the streets and thankfully for the artists and organisers of the Comedy Festival, there were long queues at all venues, big and small.

Even last night, a Tuesday, the city looks to have returned to how we remember it. Lots of smartly dressed commuters in the tri-colours of Melbourne, black/grey/black and the eclectic mixture of the locals that provide Melbourne with its diverse culture.

As we reach the business end of the Comedy Festival it can be confusing trying to navigate a minefield of shows and deciding where to spend your hard earned.

We are almost at the end of our chosen shows and subsequent budget, so I thought I’d quickly review the ones we saw which might help when considering.

1. Daniel Connell-Gutless Wonder, Swiss Club. What a great name for a show. Instant flashback to the 60’s and 70s. We saw Daniel’s show in 2021 and had to go to this one. Where last year’s comprised bits regarding trips to the local servo, this one incorporated a long and very funny story about his Aunty’s funeral and his relationship with his Dad. Daniel is very Australian in delivery and in the words of Barry McKenzie, “he’s as as dry as a dead dingo’s donger.”
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/daniel-connell-gutless-wonder

2. Bob Franklin-Sir Robert’s Sporting Legends, Westin Hotel. You may remember Bob in the old Jimeoin TV show cooking segment. He’s performed as a serious actor both on film and theatre for thirty odd years but for us it’s his cameo in Lano and Woodley’s TV series that is so memorable. The episode is called Star Quest and it’s the funniest 22 minutes of Australian TV we have ever seen. Anyway, this show featured Bob playing a pompous blue blood who has been hired to host an imaginary fund raising event, where he hopes to draw money out of sporting celebrities. Any sports celebrity you can remember who has engaged in sexual assault, cruelty to animals or is just downright corrupt, gets ripped apart in the most brutal satire, delivered in the most gentlemanly of fashion. If you’re a fan of Sean Micallef you’ll love this. Absolutely brilliant piece of theatre.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/bob-franklin-sir-robert-s-sporting-legends

3. Aiden Jones-Pap, Melb Town Hall. Aiden is only in his early 30’s and is quickly building a reputation as a fine storyteller. I loved the fact he was waiting for us the punters when we walked into the room and greeted us warmly. A scenario such as that can be a little intimidating for some but this felt like you were greeting an old friend. The stories revolved around him being sacked fourteen times, something I can definitely relate to and a fabulous and heartfelt tribute to his Grandad. Very funny and engaging, right down to the final musical number. That’s a clue.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/passing-time

4. Tshaka and Friends, Meatworks Nth Melb. This was a multi-cultural event which consisted of five comedians from Nigeria, USA, China, Singapore and India. We had little expectation but this quickly became a gem. The Meatworks is literally an old Meatworks converted into a corporate event suite. There were only approx. twenty of us there, but the comics delivered like there were a hundred. To get to the venue, take the ten minute 59 tram up Elizabeth St to the big roundabout and walk five minutes. The placement of the venue may have been a slight deterrent to some, but it’s worth the minor inconvenience. Very funny indeed.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/a-continental-showcase

5. Lano and Woodley’s Moby Dick, Comedy Theatre. These two lovable idiots have been performing together for the best part of thirty years and every show they have shared has been a triumph. Moby Dick is no exception as these knuckleheads reprise all the beautiful memories of childhood watching Looney Tunes, The 3 Stooges and Abbot and Costello. Whatever the theme of their shows, like The history of flight in The Fly or the drama of a classic novel like Moby Dick, it matters little when these two start improvising. Yes, Moby Dick does have some structure but Colin and Frank hold onto the thread very tenuously whilst the audience are doubled over laughing. Yet another triumph from these two imbeciles.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/moby-dick

6. Deadly Funny National Grand Final, Forum Downstairs. This is upon us this week and it’s a show we attend every year because it always delivers. Our First Nation’s comedians always bring a refreshing insight into their culture and provide a truly authentic focus on being black in a white world. It’s an hour and a half of nervous first time comedians, lots of surprises and guaranteed belly laughs in a joyous, supportive environment.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/deadly-funny-national-grand-final

7. The Moosehead Awards, Melb Town Hall. We sadly can’t make it this year but it never disappoints. I’ll forever be grateful for the 1993 Mooseheads for introducing me to the late, great Bill Hicks. His ten minute bit that night has spawned hero worship ever since so if you haven’t had the chance to get to the festival as much as you would have liked, then the two hours of The Mooseheads is a terrific opportunity to fill your boots.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/moosehead-benefit-2022