So, he was an hour late. So, that meant standing in line for an hour and a half. So, it wasn’t his fault – other acts had run overtime. So, I began to sober up. So, by the time the show was over I was slipping towards a hangover. So, the Capitol Theatre is a venue that’s too large and impersonal. But I don’t blame you, Arj.

The constant tourer and regular visitor to wherever-the-bloody-hell-we-are, Arj Barker has built up a strong local following through appearances at festivals and stints on Foxtel’s The Comedy Channel. That of course equates to bigger demand, and the need for the jagged-roofed long room, where everyone at the back has to squint a bit.

That said, Arj is as funny as hell and kept the jokes flowing strong and fast. He’s a polished performer and the material scored well on the local content meter. It’s always interesting to hear what outsiders think of little ol’ us (apparently we’re laid-back), and our slightly aggressive tourism advertising rates a mention (I’m waiting with bated breath to see who has the wherewithal to tackle the wacky events at Cronulla).
A straight stand-up show might get a little lost in such a large venue, but spending time with Arj is something that many in Melbourne will be lining up to do in the next few weeks.