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The tweed jacket was the first clue. Followed by the glasses and the hair, and then confirmed by the well trained but ever so slightly accented voice. James Dowdeswell was a professor in a previous life.

By his own admission, his anglo afro lends itself more to physics teacher than funky bass player, and perhaps it was the sheer tininess of the Allende Room in Trades Hall, or the fact that everyone in the audience seemed to know each other, but I couldn’t shake the feeling like I was in a classroom watching a teacher perform for Year 11. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, in fact, I’ve seen some funny teachers in my time, bloody funny, and if Mr. Dowdeswell ever became a teacher he’d be the toast of the staffroom.

Stalking onto the stage like a bizarre cross between Sideshow Bob and Beaker from the muppets, he regales us with stories starting from his eccentric upbringing in a local English pub right through to the beginnings of his fledgling comedic career. Interspersed with ‘umms’ and ‘ahhs’, his yarns are delicately told eliciting smiles all around that often turn to chuckles when he cracks an outright gag.

The meat of the show is a light-hearted lecture of sorts, detailing the comings and goings of James’ uncle’s dealings with Charlie Chaplin, and while the class (nee audience) learns a surprising amount in quite long speeches between jokes, we’re all still beaming away, not a soul even tempted to start doodling on the seats. The classroom feel is enhanced by the lack of hardcore profanity in the show, ‘turnip’ being the only real insult and ‘Fanny by the Gaslight’ – a real life show title, we’re assured - drawing one of the biggest laughs.

While some of the jokes may fall short at the last hurdle, and it’s hard to imagine the show on a much larger stage, Dowdeswell’s perfectly cultured self-depreciating lines have us chortling along to the last.

Charming, familiar and satisfying, as an intimate show ‘My Grandad was a clown…’ is a resounding success. From the cheeky pun in the title to Les the Lifeguard, Dowdeswell's dim-witted West Country bumpkin character, this performance has history and nostalgia, as well as comedy on it’s side.


My Grandad Was A Clown And Those Are Big Shoes To Fill
James Dowdeswell

Venue: Trades Hall, Allende | Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton
Dates: 6 - 18 April, 2010
Times: Tue - Sat 8.15pm, Sun 7.15pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Prices: Full $22, Concession $15, Tightarse Tuesday $15
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 | At the door
Visit: myspace.com/jamesdowdeswell