Nights at the Festival—16 April
Tuesday, April 17 2012
Best Comics, Worst Gigs was held by George McEnroe at the Wheeler Centre. She has Tom Gleeson, Cal Wilson, Denise Scott and Dave Thornton get up to share stories about their worst on stage experiences.
McEnroe told of a 10:00am appearance at a shopping mall, where the audience was sparse enough that she could work out why they were individually shit.
Thornton regaled stories of a TAFE crowd more interested in free lasagne, not sure what the man with the spruiker mike was saying, and people in Edinburgh shushing the few members of the audience enjoying the show.
Cal Wilson had quite a few tales, especially from her time doing impro in New Zealand. Tom Gleeson decided to share some more recent horrors, including one where his political punch-lines were in the room. Denise Scott’s went way back. They were almost all hilarious. Stories of that ilk are the definition of something happening that you know will make you (or others) laugh down the track, but the actual experiences must have been soul destroying. The event will be held again next week with Lawrence Mooney, Joel Creasey, Greg Fleet, Geraldine Hickey and Tony Martin, yet is already booked out.
I’d attended that as a patron, but was happy enough to write some notes. The next show I saw was Doctor Brown. This is the definition of a show I would be scared to have my notepad out at. His front row crowd is made up almost entirely of young lads who probably do some sport. Brown’s shows have a reputation for audience participation, and while it isn’t restricted to the front, they do bare the brunt of his clowning.
The show title Befrdfgth isn’t a word. The show doesn’t contain words and is thus very difficult to describe in words. What I can tell you is that I didn’t notice my face was wet from happy tears, and I’ve never heard such a small room make so much noise. It’s great to see something like this nominated for the Barry. If you don’t get along, start questioning your own life choices.
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