I can safely say I have never been to a Comedy Festival show where the comedian has escorted me to my seat. After this unusually chivalrous act, Garlepp made his grand entrance. Shimmying down to the stage, dancing to none other than the god of 13 year old girls everywhere, Taylor Swift.
As a 23-year-old, well-educated Melbourne bloke, Garlepp discussed 23-year-old, well-educated Melbourne bloke topics. Not to say that’s an issue. It was at times refreshing and there was no doubting the validity of his stories. The old saying ‘write what you know’ held true as he reflected on the awkward period post high school and prior to actually getting your shit together.
Bitter from a recent break up from both his girlfriend and sponsor child “Merry Christmas”, Garlepp let the audience know straight off the bat where he stood with people who are, well, happy. He directed his anger at couples who claim that even though only one of them have an ingrown toe nail they both feel it, people who make stupid comments like “our grandmas went to the same primary school”, and the girl who thought the term Segway was named after the motorized things fat American tourists use.
But my personal favourite was his angry towards the stupidity to the people who tell him he must be good with women because he grew up and lives with his mum and three sisters. His response; “Well I’m not trying to fuck them.”
Garlepp let us know right from the start the two reasons he got into comedy: “why not?” and “fuck it”. You can feel this energy and his infectious charisma as he stands on stage and delivers his well-orchestrated material. Fresh onto the comedy circuit, Garlepp reminds me of someone like Tom Ballard; that cheeky guy who is genuinely excited to be there.
There is no doubt that this show will best resonate with people in the I’m-not-a-girl-not-yet-a-women-stage-of-life, but also those who crave the nostalgia of hearing stories of guys being whipped by their first girlfriend and the struggle of not being able to get a job with your $30,000 arts degree, or even complete your $30,000 arts degree.
BY ROCHELLE BEVIS
