Anthony Menchetti, presenting Gay Conversion School Drop Out for this year’s Comedy Festival, delivers a series of rueful stories and insights into what happened when his parents sent him to a ‘Gay Conversion School’ in Perth to cure his homosexuality. Actually, his eccentric parents sound like they might need curing themselves; when out driving, his mother prays to get a car parking spaces - and usually does (could be something in it), and his father is a crazed importer of sought-after things like a combination hammer and radio. Of course the resourceful Menchetti soon realises the GCS is a neat way of meeting other gay men, whose wish to be cured seems faint at best. (In the end, for a number of reasons, the GCS folds, though, if you’re looking, apparently Hillsong Church still runs one in Sydney.)
Menchetti has a light, cheerful manner, punctuated by expressions like ‘Yeah… good times…', and a puckish giggle. He uses props and charts adeptly, plays the keyboard and sings a little, and there is a boppy sound track to introduce the show and act as cover every so often.
Despite its pretty serious sub-text, Menchetti skates lightly over the surface of his material, and Gay Conversion School Drop Out is a pleasant enough way to spend an hour.
andrewtaylormanagement.com
Gay Conversion School Drop Out Volume 2
Anthony Menchetti
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall | Cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, Melbourne
Dates: 20th Mar - 13th Apr
Times: Tue-Sat 8.15pm, Sun 7.15pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Prices: Full $23, Conc $19
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 & at the door