Sanderson Jones, Rich Hall, Late O’Clock with Rob Hunter : MICF Reviews
April 5, 2011 by Sean Lynch
Filed under Comedy, Comedy Reviews
Sanderson Jones – Taking Liberties
Sanderson Jones : Chat Roulette King
Sporting one of the more impressive beards currently doing the rounds at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Sanderson Jones has somehow slipped under the radar of festival buzz thus far (being buried in an out-of-the-hub venue doesn’t help things either).
Yet it won’t be long before comedy loving folks are praising his name if his show Taking Liberties is anything to go by.
Jones takes hold of the audience with such ease, with a clever mixture of standard comedy and the absurd, without ever feeling threatening.
If for no reason other than the simple fact that this UK comic has found the single most perfect way of using Chat Roulette at a live show – Sanderson Jones should shoot to the upper levels of your list of “Funny People I Must See In 2011″.
TICKET INFO : www.comedyfestival.com.au
WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 3 out of 5
Rich Hall
Rich Hall has been around long enough, and proved his worth on more than enough occasions, to render the effect of any potential review of his shows (positive or negative) meaningless.
He is good, really good, he’s proved that – therefore reviews are pointless – so it’s nothing short of your comedy loving duty to at least see him once in your life. He deserves that much (after all, he is the inspiration for Moe from The Simpsons).
His self titled show is more of the Rich Hall we know and love. Music intertwined with comedy (and not the annoying type which seems to have invaded festivals in the last few years), tales of life (his memoir of a trip to visit the Queen alongside “Don Johnson from Miami Vice” is a perfectly woven yarn), super quick improv skills, a fantastic ability to interact with the audience and enough American culture bashing to fill a dump truck.
He’s a guy that knows how to do the job and do it well – I’m incredibly happy I’ve had the chance to see this legend of comedy.
TICKET INFO : www.comedyfestival.com.au
WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 3.5 out of 5
Late O’Clock with Rob Hunter
Feat. Charlie Pickering, Greg Fleet, Luke McGregor
While it would be easy to write Rob Hunter’s late night live talk show as little more than “A geeky guy who has watched all of Zach Galifinakis‘ Between Two Ferns videos and is replicating it at a school camp concert”, doing so would deprive you of one of the more enjoyable experiences of this years festival.
With the bulk of the show consisting of “spontaneously and awkward interactions with celebrity guests (well, as “celebrity” as Australians can get I guess), many could be forgiven that there is little to work with (after all, making fun of Charlie Pickering’s career in front of his face is hardly as daring as doing it to Bruce Willis‘). However, it’s the unique flourishes that surround the show that really makes Late O’Clock a must see.
Flourish #1 : Luke McGregor. I’ve been seeing a lot of this guy around the traps lately (Studio A, The Problematic World of You) and I simply can’t get enough of his undefinable comedic presence. He is a pale white ranga oozing the confidence of a Ed Hardy store owner. His stage persona is a wonderful juxtaposition of ideas and, if for nothing else, the reason to see Late O’Clock. I’ll be making sure I see his show Luke & Cambo Get All The Bitches before the festival is over, I suggest you do too.
For this particular episode of the show, highlights included : Charlie Pickering’s “Is It Too Soon?”, the line “F**k off drug addict” directed with fire at Greg Fleet and Rob’s pointed question to Pickering “Since joining 7pm, what’s it like having to abandon comedy”.
Only three shows this year – so be sure to book early and don’t miss out.
TICKET INFO : www.comedyfestival.com.au
WATCH OUT FOR | RATING : 4 out of 5