23 Positions in a One Night Stand, is as it suggests a one-night stand where a group of excellent comedians raised money for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre. Organised and orchestrated by Casey Bennetto (he of Keating! The Musical fame) with much help from Scod and Yon from Tripod (Gatesy may have been there but I didn’t recognise him), the evening was a collection of Prince Songs as sung by a wide range of comedians from new and up and comers to old comedic pros. And what a night it was! Raising just over $6000 for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre it was a funky evening where everybody got their freak on. All told their were 28 comedians who sung and got raucous and highlights (and their were many) included: Alan Brough’s passionate rendition of The Cross, Andy McClelland’s gentlemanly interpretation of Sexy M.F. and Ali McGregor’s blistering rendition of Cry (I think), Aurora Kirth’s If I was your Girlfriend, Baggas’ Starfish and Coffee, Adam Hills’ Seven, Aid Concert Aid’s hilarious mash-up of I wanna be your lover with the Spice Girls Wannabe, and Casey’s closer the ubiquitous Gett Off. I also want to single out the solo violionist (whose name I haven’t been able to find out) whose rendition of Little Red Corvette was mesmerizing. The entire evening was full of great performances and it’s a shame that I can’t print a complete list of songs and artists because each comedian’s choice highlighted something unique about who they are as a person.
What made this an event to be remembered was not Casey’s costume (or lack thereof) but was the enthusiasm, passion and humanity that everyone brought to evening’s affairs. Everyone, even those who professed to not being the greatest singers, gave their all and had fun (and it’s hard not to with Prince whose work is so infectiously funky). And to top it all off they raised money for a great cause. 23 Positions in a One Night Stand showed comedians who cared, giving something back while giving their audience a great night out. And they had a dance floor too, and I do so love to dance!
It’s a great shame that this was a one off event, but the ephemeral nature of such a night means that it will live on it our memories for some time to come. However 23 Positions in a One Night Stand does definitively prove one thing and that is that this year the Trades Hall reigns supreme as the venue to see the best of what’s going on in the festival. If you haven’t seen anything in the Comedy Festival, then get moving and make the Trades Hall the first place you start.
23 Positions in a One Night Stand
Venue: Comedy @ Trades, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton
Room: New Ballroom
Date: 29th March
Tickets: $30.00 Full, $25.00 Groups (6 or more), $20.00 Concession
Time: 11:00 PM
Bookings: www.comedyattrades.com.au 03 9659 3569