Luisa Omielan @ Victoria Hotel
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Luisa Omielan @ Victoria Hotel

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“I love her,” declares a beaming fan of Luisa Omielan, midway through the UK comedian’s latest show Am I Right Ladies?!. “I love her.”

 

Omielan is the exact talent you might expect to have a fanatical legion of devotees. All throughout Am I Right Ladies?! she demonstrates she is much more than an explosively-sassy, silver-tongued stand-up comic: she’s a true champion of self-respect and self-esteem, an advocate for liking yourself exactly as you are. Her show serves up crucial social commentary and arguably has the power to affect positive change.

 

Of course, this kind of praise will likely reinforce certain fears in the minds of apprehensive punters – that is, those that feel Omielan’s show may stray too far into preachy, ‘girl power’ territory. One reasonably predicts a large contingent of men would already balk at the show title alone. But rest assured, Am I Right Ladies?! isn’t a TED talk: it’s a feel-good affair and an example of exceptional stand-up comedy. There’s a reason why Omielan has been dubbed a breakout star in recent years: she’s great at what she does. It makes perfects sense that her audience are frequently found hooting and hollering in adoration.

 

In this show, she infuses her overall message with as much funny as possible, from musing upon the transformative power of her “healing” vagina to staging a melodramatic recreation of a rendezvous with an ex. Omielan’s expertise is sharp-as-a-tack, heart-on-sleeve material and, as a result, she’s endearing from the outset. She’s loud, proud and owns everything she is.

 

Am I Right Ladies?! has a real party-vibe about it, too. Omielan cleverly ensures a healthy energy in her room before her audience is even seated, busting a move to a playlist of Top 40 pop tunes. You have to admire a performer who breaks a sweat before 70 minutes of dynamic stand-up comedy. With that in mind, as an audience member, you can expect to be on board with Omielan immediately and engaged throughout. Am I Right Ladies?! Is longer than plenty of shows this festival and yet it’s an experience you won’t tire of.

 

In approaching her second Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Omielan aimed to top her smash-hit, Barry-Award-nominated show of 2015, What Would Beyonce Do?! – a show that drew from personal adversity. These days, she finds herself in a much better place. “Let’s see how funny ‘happy’ is!” she jokes, just a few minutes into her latest offering. She needn’t worry: Am I Right Ladies?! is hilarious and a must-see show this festival.

  

BY NICK MASON