Perth Reviews

A busy line up of comedians on tour after their individual shows in the recent Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Host and MC, Tom Ballard was loud and shouty. Somehow he didn't seem to hit the mark comedy wise. He introduced a range of comedians who were mostly likewise, just slightly off in their delivery and timing.

Harry Jun appeared to be more amused by himself than the audience he was supposedly working to. Danielle Walker was a huge improvement but her usage of large photographs to illustrate her stories was a mistake. The room and the audience was too big for the images to be clearly seen. Her delivery however was pacy and engaging.

Alex Ward was witty and shared some clever observations which resounded well with the audience. Her observations about a 3 week stay with her rather eccentric mother were well received. Simple mentions of the fact that the cutlery was kept in a drawer 3 levels down, not the top drawer drew appreciative hoots of laughter.

However the comedic hit of the evening was the final turn by Japanese comic Takashi Wakasugi. Clad in voluminous shirt and trousers he moved fluidly to illustrate the do's and don't's of life in his personal opinion. Comparing those who held strong views of what was acceptable behaviour and what wasn't, cleverly illustrating these choices with bold full length gestures to the left and right. Likening the consistency of these opinions to the samurai, strong and resolute. In his set he touched on feeling more Australian in Japan and the vice versa when he was in Australia.

Other mentions were the irony of renewing his driver's licence while not ever driving, and the bizarre concept of living in Canberra, a city patently not part of Australia because it had no beaches or wineries.

His rambling observations  were clever and the highlight of the show. His prolonged applause was well deserved.