MICF Menu – Friday April 1
Subscribe
X

Get the latest from Beat

All

MICF Menu – Friday April 1

menuartwork.jpg

MICF UPDATES

 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Regent Theatre is hosting a huge birthday bash to celebrate. Hosts Cal Wilson and Tommy Little will be joined onstage by Eddie Perfect, Rich Hall, Greg Fleet, The Umbilical Brothers, Wendy Harmer, Luke McGregor, Gerry Connolly, Nina Conti, Rod Quantock, Rachel Berger and Simon Munnery, as well as many more local and international acts. It’s a perfect, once-in-a-lifetime event for comedy nerds, fans of the festival and anyone who simply loves a laugh. Beat recently spoke with Festival Director Susan Provan about the event: “We’ve announced half (of the line-up) and the rest is just going to have to be a surprise,” she said. “We want to keep some things under wraps. It’s going to be a huge night. It could quite possibly go all night because we keep adding to it.” The Festival announced via Twitter yesterday that they just released additional tickets to this special event, so hop to it. 

 

MICF SELL-OUTS

 

Here’s just a small sample of festival shows that have proven extremely popular over the past day. They’ve been so popular, in fact, that there’s not been a single seat left. With that in mind, make a note of each of these shows and, if you’d like to see any of them, get in quick.

 

Alice Fraser – The Resistance

Aunty Donna – New Show

Celia Pacquola – The Looking Glass

Comedy Zone Asia

Gillian Cosgriff – To The Moon and Back

Ivan Aristeguieta’s Chorizo Sizzle

Kate Dehnert – Shabamalam

Nazeem Hussain – Hussain in the Membrane

MICF ENTREES (Early Shows, until 7pm)

 

Mark Butler – Brain of Woman, Brain of Man

 

The differences between men and women might be a well-worn subject in the world of comedy, but done right, it can be amazing. Enter UK comedian Mark Butler, who will examine the sorts of things that separate us in his show Brain of Woman, Brain of Man. If you’re fascinated (see: bewildered) by the opposite sex, then this 55-minute exploration might be for you. Butler is performing at the Downstairs Lounge, at the Grand Mercure Hotel, Tue-Sun 6.15pm until April 17.

 

Emily Tresidder – Crazy Is

This festival, Emily Tresidder aims to shine a light upon the human condition – specifically, our tendency to bandy the word ‘crazy’ about with wild abandon. Considering the sudden ascendancy of ‘cray’ into the popular lexicon, she might be onto something. In this show, Tresidder ponders upon how we’re using the word ‘crazy’ and what it actually means. Crazy Is promises to not only be amusing but insightful. You have until April 3 to catch Tresidder at The Forum Theatre.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

 

MICF MAIN MEALS (Prime Time, 7pm-10pm)

 

David O’Doherty – We Are All In The Gutter, But Some Of Us Are Looking At David O’Doherty

 

Casio-keyboard-comic David O’Doherty may boast the longest show title of the festival. “It’s quite a pretentious quote that I was able to ruin by egotistically inserting my own name into the middle of it and associating myself with Oscar Wilde,” he recently explained to Beat Magazine. O’Doherty has been an MICF favourite for many years, audiences flocking to the Forum to appreciate his self-proclaimed brand of very low energy musical whimsy – or VLEMWy, for short. Expect brilliant, charming stand-up peppered with a few quirky tunes. You can catch O’Doherty at the Forum, Tue-Sat 7.15pm and Sun 6.15pm, until April 16.

 

Stephen K Amos – The Laughter Master

 

Stephen K Amos has long had a strong relationship with Australian audiences and that looks set to continue this festival season. Consistency is key: you can always depend on Amos to find the funny, which is precisely why The Laughter Master is worth checking out. If you aren’t familiar with this brand of honest and charming observational comedy, do yourself a favour and check it out this festival. Hurry, though: Amos is only performing his show through to April 10. Catch him while you can at the Athenaeum Theatre, Tue-Sat 7pm and Sun 6pm.

 

Luisa Omielan – Am I Right Ladies?!

 

Luisa Omielan made her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut in 2015 with her smash-hit, Barry-Award-nominated show What Would Beyonce Do?! – and now, one year and 33 million YouTube view later, she’s back. Her new 70 minute shoe – Am I Right Ladies?! – promises to build upon the exceptional form she showed last year. “It’s kind of a manifesto of where I’m at in my life. I talk about body image, mental health, career choices, I talk about being single as opposed to being in a relationship and just pursuing a lifestyle that I want to maintain,” she explained to Beat Magazine in a recent interview. “It’s like part two of Beyoncé – a more grown-up-woman version of what happened next, after Beyoncé. It’s a manifesto of being a 21st century woman, I guess.” A combination of energetic, empowering and downright hilarious, Luisa Omielan is not to be missed. See her strut her stuff at the Victoria Hotel , Tue-Sat 9.45pm and Sun 8.45pm, through to April 17.

 

MICF DESSERTS (Late Shows, 10pm onwards)

 

The Bear Pack

Expect the unexpected when The Bear Pack hits the Melbourne Town Hall this festival. Steen Raskopoulos (BBC’s Top Coppers, 2015 Barry Award nominee, National Theatresports Champion) and Carlo Ritchie ( Big Head Mode) are specialists in improvised storytelling, transforming audience suggestions into comedy gold. In conjuring entire scenes out of thin air, the duo have been hailed as cutting edge, earning great acclaim for their shenanigans. Embrace the unpredictable this April, but be quick: The Bear Pack only have six shows. Catch them at the Town Hall, Mon 6pm and Fri-Sat 11pm.

 

The Late Show: A Festival Showcase

 

Let’s imagine that you’ve rolled the dice on a few acts at the festival and you’re not particularly satisfied with what you’ve seen. What went wrong? Did you do your research? It’s easier than you’d think. Take The Late Show: A Festival Showcase, for example: it’s a nightly gala of the finest acts featuring at this year’s festival. You basically get six acts for the price of one and walk away with an idea of other shows you might like to check out. Sounds sensible, right? Check out The Late Show at The Joint, Tue-Thu 9.30pm, Fri-Sat 11pm and Sun 10pm.

 

MICF SPECIALS (One-Offs and Discounts)

 

When the clock strikes 11:30pm, the festival doesn’t wind up – it kicks on. Treat yourself to Comedy Bonanza at The Festival Club this evening, the variety show that features a who’s who of local and international stars. Tonight’s line-up includes MC Nath Valvo, Karl Chandler, Kevin Kropinyeri, Neel Kolhatkar, Igor Meerson (RUS), Jen Kirkman (USA), Rich Hall (USA) and DJ Rainbow Connection.

Recommended