comedy festival update - i have been to only four shows so far, which, while i will admit is a weak effort in itself, is better than last year's, in which i saw nothing. so, here is a wrap of what i have seen so far (all of wich i would highly recommend, needless to say), and what i intend to see in the near future.

geraldine hickey's 'one week in paradise' (at melb town hall): excellent show. geraldine is a great performer, with a style that is laid-back and comfortable. coupled with the intimate venue, the show takes on the feel of a confessional. a bittersweet show which is funny, with flashes of brilliance - keep an ear out for the 'skipping rope' analogy.
tanya losanno's 'risotto sans frontiers' (at melb town hall): tanya has amazing energy on stage, and her show has a great pace to it. the night i went she had a small audience, but she still gave it her all. a show with a conscience that asks a lot of quetions, making you think while it makes you laugh.
ben payne's 'duopoly of one (at trades hall): telling the story of his and his wife's struggle to have children, and their eventual success in through the ivf program - they end up with three kids, two of which are twins. personal stuff, but also very funny - i had the luck of sitting next to his mum in the audience. ben is great on stage, and his show is very engaging.
andrew mclelland's 'mixed tape' (at duckboard house): sing-along-licious - what a hoot! i must admit i am a huge andy mclelland fan, so i knew i would enjoy this show. feel-good, hilarious, this is the show you should go to with a group of mates to re-live memories of school crushes and dancefloor shenanigans. andy engages the audience well, morphs between characters, and displays some world-class flouncing. this show is well-planned and well put together. sells out fast, so make sure you get in early!

on the cards for the near future - comedy zone, call girls, renegades of folk, kathy smith goes to maths camp, the festival club. more as they happen!