In How Do You Like Your Eggs, Andrea Powell delivers quick random humour embedded in a punchy and well crafted self-written script, as she talks to her audience about her personal experiences of modern dating including the many ‘nutjobs’ she has encountered. Donned in a red evening dress, heels and some lipstick on a stage with only a chair draped in a white sheet, a rapunzel-like knotted sheet hanging from the stage’s ceiling and a sheet on the back wall for a screen, Powell is a world away from her well known dotty character Ethel Chop. However, Powell slips into Ethel Chop mode briefly (with a photo of Ethel projected behind her) to inform us that using Ethel in the bedroom only seems to scare away the gentleman callers!
Powell exudes confidence in a way that would have made Bridget Jones envious. Using other characters only to enhance the story (Janelle the waxing lady, Darren the ex-boyfriend, Viennese Mr C on rsvp.com, among others), the conversational style script is delivered comfortably and with polish. The planned windows of audience interaction underline her command of the stage. Some of the jokes are less innovative, but not clichéd enough for her audience to hold a grudge as Powell moves swiftly through the material.
If a comedy show were an egg, Andrea Powell’s would be well cracked and skilfully poached. Available on this year’s comedy festival menu, this show is certainly a bit of fun.
Andrea Powell in
How Do You Like Your Eggs?Directed by Colin Batrouney
Dramaturg Judith Lucy
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall | Regent Room, cnr Swanston & Collins Streets
Dates: 5th – 29th April (not Mondays), Preview 5th April
Times: Tues - Sat 8.30pm, Sunday 7.30pm
Tickets: $22.00 Full, Conc. $18.00, Group (5 or more) $18.00 Preview $16.00; Tightarse Tuesday $16.00
Bookings: Ticketmaster and at the door
