So here they are, in no particular order!  Browse away, click on the show title to see more information about the show on offer and email to win.

TRIPOD VERSUS THE DRAGON

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

GERALDINE HICKEY – HAMMER AND TONG

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

MICHAEL CHAMBERLIN – KEEP YOURSELF NICE

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

JEFF GREEN – CRAZY FROM THE HEAT

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Monday 29 March

GERALDINE QUINN – SHUT UP AND SING

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March

CIRCUS TRICK TEASE

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March, Wednesday 7 April

AKMAL – IT’S NOT MY FAULT

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Wednesday 31 March

ASHER TRELEAVEN – SECRET DOOR

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April

JASON PESTELL JUMPS THE SHARK

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

VIGILANTELOPE PRESENTS PROPHECY OF THE QUANTUM CHILD

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET RETURNS

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March

SPONTANEOUS BROADWAY

Tickets available for Wednesday 7 April

ROD QUANTOCK – THE PEOPLE WE SHOULD EAT FIRST (AND HOW TO COOK THEM)

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March

ANDY & ADRIAN – RADIO HUSBANDS

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

LUKE & WYATT: STACKS ON

Tickets available for Tuesday 30 March

SANDERSON JONES – ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING YET ULTIMATELY LIFE AFFIRMING SHOW ABOUT DEATH

Tickets available for the duration of the festival

TOM BALLARD – COGITO ERGO SOME FUNNY

Tickets available for Sunday 4 April

HANNAH GADSBY – THE CLIFF YOUNG SHUFFLE

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March

MARK TRENWITH – FUN

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Monday 30 March

THE KRANSKY SISTERS – THREE BAGS FULL

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

HALLEY METCALFE – FIVE STARS

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Wednesday 31 March

THE AXIS OF AWESOME – INFINITY ROCK EXPLOSION

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

CATH STYLES IN LOVE AND MARRIAGE

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March

THE SHAMBLES – LIVE AT A BALLROOM

Tickets available for Thursday 8 April

KARL CHANDLER IS 100 JOKES PER HOUR

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT: A SHIP LOAD OF LAUGHS

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March

COLOUR IN STEREO

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

STEVE HUGHES – HEAVY METAL COMEDY

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

DAVE THORNTON – A DIFFERENT KIND OF NORMAL

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March

BULMER’S BEST OF THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

TOM GLEESON – GET IT INTO YA

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

THE CONCERT BY THE BUSINESS

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

EUROPEAN MAN 1

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 8 April

SUPERMANCHILD

Tickets available for Thursday 1 April, Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April

DYLAN COLE – I’M NOT HERE

Tickets available for Thursday 1 April, Friday 2 April

KARIN MUIZNIEKS – FIRST AGAINST THE WALL

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 8 April, Sunday 11 April

PEDRO TOCHAS – THE SCULPTOR CLOWN

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

DAVID SMIEDT – INTRODUCING DAVID SMIEDT

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

DIE ROTEN PUNKTE – KUNST ROCK

Tickets available for Thursday 8 April

WILSON DIXON’S AMERICAN DREAM

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

DEAD CAT BOUNCE

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

RUSSELL MCGILTON – ACCIDENTS ARE PROHIBITED ON THIS ROAD

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Monday 29 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March

GORDON SOUTHERN – BORDERS

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

BIG FAT LOSER

Tickets available for Sunday 4 April, Monday 5 April

MARCEL LUCONT – SEXUAL METRO

Tickets available for Tuesday 30 March

THE UNCANNY X-GEN

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April

JARRED KEANE – THE SECOND COMING

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 8 April, Friday 9 April

POET LAUREATE TELIA NEVILE PRESENTS WHILE I’M AWAY

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 8 April

KELLY FASTUCA – TAKE ME OUT TO THE LOGIES

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 8 April

SPAG AND DRAG (show only)

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March, Saturday 30 April and Wednesday 7 April

THE LOST RUNG – MAKING FRIENDS

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

LORRAINE’S HAIR & FACE

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

FOUR MINUTE WARNING

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

PUPPY FIGHT SOCIAL CLUB

Tickets available for Friday 2 April

MEMOIRS OF A HUMAN CANNONBALL

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

ADAM VINCENT – VITAL SIGNS

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

DEANNE SMITH: BALLSY

Tickets available for Monday 29 March, Monday 5 April

GOOKS & WOGS 2: THE RETURN OF THE CHOCO AND THE CHINK

Tickets available for Sunday 4 April

AND NOW, HERE’S YOUR HOST… TRENT MCCARTHY (WITH SPECIAL GUEST AJAK KWAI)

Tickets available for Thursday 1 April, Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April

RODNEY.  MISSING.

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 JOKES FEATURING SAM MCCOOL

Tickets available for Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April

80’S FLASH DAN’S ABOVE GROUND POOL PARTY

Tickets available for Thursday 1 April

RAYMOND CROWE

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

STEVL SHEFN AND HIS TRANSLATOR FATIMA

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

MARK PENCAK – MONSTERS IN MY WARDROBE

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

THE ULTIMATE BOARD GAME – UNSCRIPTED

Tickets available for Friday 2 April, Saturday 3 April, Sunday 4 April

DOS OR DUO

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April

THE LEMON-LIME TIME MISCELLANY HOUR LIVE WHY NOT WITH RYAN WITHERS

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Monday 29 March, Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March, Thursday 1 April

THE POLAR BEARINGS – SONGS IN THE SEA, MAJOR?

Tickets available for Tuesday 30 March, Wednesday 31 March, Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April

ALZHEIMER’S THE MUSICAL – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March, Wednesday 31 March Thursday 1 April

TWO AND A HALF MICKS

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March, Tuesday 30 March

PRETENDING THINGS ARE A COCK

Tickets available for the duration of the festival

TOMMY LITTLE’S BRAINTHOUGHTS

Tickets available for Wednesday 31 March

TADARIA STUDIO – SERENADE

Tickets available for the duration of the festival

BARNESY FOR PRESIDENT

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March, Sunday 28 March

A NIFTY HISTORY OF EVIL WITH JOHN ROBERTSON

Tickets available for Tuesday 6 April, Wednesday 7 April

DONNA & DAMO – AN ASEXUAL LOVE STORY

Tickets available for Saturday 27 March

LINDA CATALANO IS SHOPPER

Tickets available for Sunday 28 March

The Pun cannot be held responsible for the tickets to these performances.  Tickets are provided at the discretion of the individual shows as listed, and winners will be notified directly by them.  Entry to the draw is subject to joining The Pun’s e-list.  Please view our subscribe page to see terms and conditions.

Rod Quantock – In the Beginning

Fancy a walk down memory lane?  You can, quite literally, do just this with Mr Quantock this year as he strolls through Melbourne’s streets visiting the historical sites and stories of comedy in our hometown.

Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour

Ben McKenzie has done us all a favour, bringing back one of last year’s sell-out comedy offerings for another year.  If you like your comedy with a smidge of “I never knew that!”, this tour will satisfy.  With comics such as Andy Muirhead and DeAnne Smith on offer, we highly recommend booking early for this one.

The Powder Room Podcast

Desperate to fit more comedy in your day?  Em O’Loughlin and Wendy Little are pleased to provide the convenience of listen-at-your-leisure podcast comedy.  New episodes are available every Friday, all you need to do is subscribe for free via iTunes.

Circus Trick Tease

If being twice nominated for people’s choice awards is anything to go by, this blend of circus and comedy is doing something very right.

Celebrity Theatresports

Every year this fast-paced bundle of fun takes over the festival for one night only, providing unscripted and unprepared comedy.  The show where impro maestros take on celebrity guests in a comedy battle royale.

And the sneaky extra we just couldn’t resist…

The Ultimate Board Game – Unscripted

After some notable evenings with their previous MICF offering, Scrabble Unscripted, the Impro Australia team return this year to tackle every board game ever made.  Personally, we can’t wait to see their take on Hungry Hungry Hippos.

A man after our own heart, Tim Vine prides himself on keeping the art of the pun alive. Not just a pun-tastic title, this show promises (or threatens) to offer the most puns-per-show ratio of the festival.

Wil Anderson: Wilful Misconduct

Ever year we open the festival guide to see what truly terrible name-based pun Anderson has gone with this time around. Not one to disappoint, this year it is Wilful Misconduct.

Dean Arcuri – To Sir with Glove ?!

What else would you call a show about fetishism? Enough said.

Peter Berner in Binge Thinker

Yup, now that’s a title we can get behind. Pure pun.

The Polar Bearings – Songs in the Sea, Major?

Not content with a pun title, this duo have actually given themselves a pun name. And the two puns compliment each other. Solid gold.

Keep Your Skirt On

Yes, yes, we’re biased.  We awarded the inaugural Keep Your Skirt On show of 2009 our Professional Development Award.  Their first year was a veritable treasure-trove of talented women, and it’s shaping up to be just as impressive this year.  A fine way to kick off your festival (and check out some short sets that will help you decide whose full show you should spend your hard earned cash on later in the month), Keep Your Skirt On features a stellar line-up of ladies to make you laugh.  The perfect teaser, you can expect an hour and a half of great comedy for only $20.

Sarah Millican

Between her poster, featuring Millican as feminist icon Rosie the riviter, and her 2009 Barry Award Nominee status, this is a show we just had to include in our Top 5.  Returning to the festival this year with her offering Typical Woman, Millican offers you the chance to catch her if you were crazy enough to miss her last year.

NGV Comedy Tour with Hannah Gadsby

While catching Gadsby for her regular comedy shows is a great night out, her very popular NGV Comedy Tour is an unusual treat.  Selling out in no time last year, you’ll have to get your skates on to make it to this year’s repeat but by all accounts its well worth the effort.  Wander the halls of the NGV and enjoy this unique event blending comedy and art like you won’t find any other night of the year.

Geraldine Hickey

This local lady returns for what is sure to be another impressive show.  Hickey should not be underestimated, having delivered stand-out solo shows at MICF over a number of years.  This year’s offering is directed by fellow Melbournian Celia Pacquola (another good female comic to check out this year if you haven’t already) and we’re looking forward to it.

Upfront 2010

Another group show offering plenty of opportunity to spy a new favourite, Upfront is back for its fifteenth year.  From big-name internationals like Nina Conti to hometown favourites such as Kitty Flanagan this show has something to keep your sides aching.

The festival website is up and running, ready for you to check out your favourite performers and search for some new talent.  Take a look, start to plan your comedy schedule and buy your tickets before you miss out!  In the meantime, we’ll be keeping an ear to the ground, listening to all the gossip from Adelaide Fringe Festival and around the traps on what’s shaping up to be worth a look for MICF.

Keep in the loop by subscribing to our email list or following us on twitter.  Subscribing will give you access to our ticket giveaways and discounts along with all our usual reviews, interviews and news.

The Barry Awards – 2009 Nominees

Tim Minchin (AUS) – Ready For This?

Rich Hall (USA) – Otis Lee Crenshaw Featuring Special Guest Rich Hall

Wilson Dixon (AUS) – Wilson Dixon Rides Again

Sarah Millican (UK) – Sarah Millican’s Not Nice

Asher Treleaven (AUS) – Open Door (Moosehead Award Recipient)

The Pajama Men (USA) – Versus vs Versus

Henning Wehn & Otto Kuhnle (DEU) – 1000 Years of German Humour

The Golden Gibbo – 2009 Nominees

Heath McIvor – Randy’s Postcards from Purgatory

Rob Hunter – Moosecow

Tale of the Golden Lease – Vigilantelope

The List Operators – The Last Tuesday Society

Tom Ballad – Is What He Is

Wes Snelling – Kiosk

Raw Comedy Winner

The top prize was awarded to Michael Workman of Western Australia. Michael won a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to compete in the prestigious competition ‘So You Think You’re Funny’.  There were two ‘Runners Up’, awarded to bee keeper, jam maker and actor Charles Barrington – also known as Andy Rodger, a 27-year-old baker originally from Mildura, Victoria; and Ash Walmsley, a 28-year-old newspaper editor from Bundaberg, Queensland. The ‘Raw Recruit’ prize for the best first time entrant went to 27-year-old Don Tran of Victoria.

Deadly Funny Winner

After being runner-up the past two years, Shiralee Hood, of Nyoongar Kurnai community (Perth/Gippsland), was crowned champion.  Second place went to Ingo Collard from Western Australia, whilst Aaron Lester from South Australia came third. Phil Saunders from South Australia received an honourable mention.

The Funny Tonne

And the status of the funny tonne?  At last update in their race to beat Funny Tonne Champ Erin Davidson (2006) who sits undefeated on 123 shows, here’s how they were placed:

Joseph Crichton – 100 shows
Kristy Lillyst – 97 shows
Jessica Chi – 80 shows

Hope to see you all at Trades Hall this Sunday night for their awards night, including our two awards from The Pun!

Not one to pull her punches, Hocking turns herself into Miss Right with gusto. Heartily taking to the cause, she spends a fast-paced hour living it up on the side of the morally righteous. The targets are plenty, and her aim is right on. From our nanny state, where even the Bakers Delight staff need a national campaign on how not to slice up their hands in the bread machine, to Rudd’s Labor Party, where nothing can be done without a summit and a round of Kum Ba Yah, it’s all square in her sights.

By taking to the right, Hocking is able to avoid the pitfalls of much left-leaning political comedy. Rather than the safety of preaching to the converted, her unflinching assessment of the current government tackles new ground. She is able to unveil the man behind the curtain in our current left-wing politics, revealing the true state of our nation. Hocking avoids the soft target, a Liberal Party so declined they are almost irrelevant, and instead focuses our attention back towards a government that has shifted from the left-leaning ideals of much of its supporter base to the true middle ground of politics and all the bureaucracy it entails. Her tongue-in-cheek dissection is insightful, biting and brings laughs aplenty. There are less of the usual knowing nods and chuckles of recognition provided by political comedy, and more of the laugh-out-loud surprise provided by a unique comic talent who talks politics.

The only bump in an otherwise smooth performance came from Hocking’s onstage comfort and technique. Admittedly, she had formidable obstacles to overcome on this particular night. One friendly (read: drunk) gentleman insisted on introducing himself to the other audience members before the performance began, then proceeded to interrupt Hocking at the earliest opportunity and treat the show as a conversation, rather than a performance. It’s safe to say that there was little disappointment when the friendly (read: still drunk) gentleman decided to leave. To her credit, Hocking was able to overcome all his disruptions, drawing the audience back into the show with finesse. It was unfortunate, however, that the constant interruptions seemed to throw her, making her refer back to her notes frequently. This lack of confidence resulted in the pace of the show being thrown off, which was unnecessary, as the audience’s sympathy were well and truly with the performer.

1. Denise Scott – Number 26

Sit back, relax and put your metaphoric comfy nightie on so you can join Scott in her jaunt down memory lane.  Part stand-up, part storytelling with a dash of showbiz thrown in, this show is one you’ll remember long after you’ve rushed off to the next gig.

2. Wilson Dixon Rides Again

If you haven’t seen a Wilson Dixon show before, you’ll want to give this one a crack.  Not just because of the recent Barry Award nomination, which usually signals a good show, but because this uniquely drawn charachter has a way of sneaking up on you.  The music is good, the premise is good, the story is good.  This cowboy philosopher is more than just a charicature, which makes for a great show.

3. The List Operators

Addicted to making lists?  This show is perfect for you.  Fresh from their award winning season (and sold-out) season at Melbourne Fringe Festival, this duo will keep you laughing for a full hour… and what better than to make our Top 5 list than, well, a show about lists.

4. Tale of the Golden Lease

Read our review for a glowing recommendation to see this show, or just take my word for the fact that these lads are performing sketch comedy at its finest.

5. Justin Hamilton – Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

Combine one talented comedian and one talented actor and you get Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.  An hour long story about little-girl-lost, Ruby, and her rather strange friendship with local comic Jason.  There are smatterings of stand-up, a beguiling story and endearing, well drawn charachters.  Well worth a look.

Sharing the stories of her time in the family home at Number 26, Scott is completely at ease in her dressing gown and slippers as she sits at the kitchen table. We might not all fit around it, but its hard not to feel as though you really are just sitting opposite her without the hundred or so other audience members for most of this show. As we all sit holding our aching sides, Scott plays hostess in the best possible way, serving up family history that is funny in the way that only real experiences can be. From their early days in the house with a young family to the current situation; trying to kick the overgrown baby-birds out in order to become pleasantly free empty-nesters, Scott shares (and sometimes overshares) the family life which has taken place inside the walls of Number 26, knocking a few skeletons out of the closet along the way.

More than just a collection of family tales, Scott manages to tie together the mundane everyday of a house in suburbia with the sometimes sharp reality that exists behind all our front doors. Raising two children, keeping together a marriage, taking care of aging parents, building a career for herself and supporting her husband’s career has provided plenty of fodder for Scott’s cheeky and insightful comedy. While most of us probably haven’t had to share our significant other with a children’s circus (or the parents of circus kids), we relate to the all-to-human emotions and reactions of Scott. Our laughter comes from the recognition of our own jealousies, or ambitions, or struggles in the face of the reality of our sometimes complicated lives.

Peering inside Number 26 we can see a house and a life not so different from our own. What we also find is a storyteller able to cut through those day-to-day experiences and see the lighter side. Or perhaps just as enjoyably, the darker side we can all find funny. Whether you, like Denise Scott, are trying to clear the family house out a little to finally enjoy it on your own, or you’re one of the children taking advantage of the comforts of home a little longer than your parents might have expected, you’re sure to find a lot to enjoy about this slice of suburban storytelling.

Last night I attempted to re-join the living for a quick nip into the city to see Tim Minchin at The Forum.  Well worth my attempts to rug up from head to toe, our second-row seats put us in the perfect position to enjoy Minchin at his rather naughty best.  Unfortunately that’s all for shows, considering the combination of Festival Flu and suddenly cold nights are conspiring to keep me indoors.  The Pun team are still hard at work, and you’ll notice the reviews are still pouring in.

After a small hold up with our printing, our Pun Postcard Editions will be hitting the streets over the weekend, so keep an eye out for the various versions.  Collect them all – swap them with your friends!  In other exciting news, our awards are shaping up nicely, and we’ll be having our customary opportunity for you to share your opinions on your favourites from this year.  Great to see so many of you already commenting all over the site.  Don’t forget to send us your SMS or Twitter reviews to be in the running for the various comedy CDs and DVDs our sponsors have so kindly provided.  And have you been listening to the Puncasts?  Presenter Matt Smith has been doing a great job of catching comics all over town, getting them to spill all the show and festival joy.

And so it goes, rolling on towards the inevitable (sad) conclusion in a bit over a week.  I still have plenty of shows to catch before I’ll be satisfied, so lets hope there is enough time after I retire my sick-bed and get back into the audience again.  Meanwhile, may you avoid the Festival Flu for just that little bit longer!

As Dave Hughes discusses in a recent article in The Age, often a less-than-positive review will stick with a performer for a very long time.  This is also apparent when listening to one of Tim Minchin’s new songs from this year’s show, which he dedicates to a bad review he received three years ago.  Yes, three.  On one hand, this is very understandable.  Anyone, no matter how confident, is bound to dislike hearing how under-appreciated their creative work is.  Having somebody cast a critical eye over your performance and pick every flaw, magnify every bumble and sit in judgement of your talents would surely be difficult to accept.  It would lead you to question who this person was, to sit in judgement of your work.  Some say, “If you can’t do, teach”… other say “if you can’t do, review”.  Given the frequency with which some comedy reviewers cross over to performing comedy here in Melbourne it can be easy to see where the saying comes from.

On the other hand, reviewing is a key factor in the publicity-factory for festivals.  A good review can make or break a show, can assist in building an audience, can elevate an unheard of name to a show with remarkable buzz around it.  Audiences read reviews to get some idea what a show is like.  The festival program offers few words, written by performers themselves, and perhaps a short quote from a previous review.  It can be hard, from this tiny bit of information, to judge you should spend your hard earned cash on one show or another.  And should you judge a show by its poster?  Should you look at the advertisements on television, in newspapers?  Do they really give you any idea what to expect?  Like it or not, reading someone else’s experience of a given show is likely to offer more of an idea about what will take place after you buy your ticket than anything else.

On one side of the fence, comics who have been burned by a bad review can often be found defensively spouting that reviewers are out to get them, want to give bad reviews, get off on destroying shows, don’t know anything about comedy in the first place, don’t represent ‘real’ audiences or are frustrated performers themselves.  On the other side of the fence, reviewers will point out that they are unwilling to let poor performances go unchecked, save audiences from wasting money on sub-standard shows, comics can’t take criticism, it’s not their job to keep shows happy, they have a duty to be honest about a show’s faults.  They are courted, and then derided if their review finds even the smallest criticism.  There is truth on both sides.  And the relationship between reviewer and reviewed is symbiotic.  Without something to review, the reviewer has no purpose.  Without a review, a performer has difficulty getting the word out about their show.  The only potentially unhappy party in the case of a positive review is the reader/audience member, in the case where a reviewer has ‘gone soft’ and not been honest about a poor performance.  They have trusted a reviewer (or publication) to provide them with a fair assessment about a show, and if the show is weak (but the review didn’t make this apparent) they feel let down by both the show and the publication.  Nobody wins.

Particularly in comedy, where the lines between the performer and the character they inhabit on stage can be blurry, or in some cases knife thin, the criticism of a reviewer can strike very close to home.  It is rare to have a vitriolic email in response to a review from an actor, director, film producer, musician or dancer.  It’s almost as if, when reading a review, they can separate the criticism of the performance from the criticism of themselves.  For comics, this appears harder to do.  Many take criticism of their routine, performance, material or presentation as personal.  Some reviewers find it hard to separate performer and performance, but it seems some comics also suffer the same problem.  Sad to say, but often comics respond to criticism with burning outrage.  In many cases, as with the recent example of Dave Hughes, the review itself is far from acerbic.  A small comment or criticism can be interpreted as much harsher than it was probably intended (or as most audiences read it).  Listening to Tim Minchin’s ode to his negative reviewer, it’s hard to understand how his steady climb to international success can leave him time to fixate on three-year-old reviews.  But it does.  Enough to write a biting song in response.

Reviews and reviewers serve different purposes depending on who the reviewer is, what the media outlet is and who the (perceived) readership is.  For us here at The Pun, we have a clear understanding of our aims.  We don’t offer a star-rating system because we have a large team.  Given that we review so many shows (significantly more than any other media outlet), we have a varied team of writers, all of whom have differing opinions and tastes.  When you read reviews from a mainstream media outlet such as The Age you often know the individual reviewer, and will know your tastes are the same as (or different from) theirs.  You know if they’re tough to impress, or if they don’t like musical comedy.  It’s a relationship arts reviewers build with their audience over a long time.  For us, we operate on the theory that a review should help match the right show with the right audience.  A reader should read the review and get a good idea if they would like to see it.  We do not claim, or seek, to rate shows, compare them against each other or to attempt to claim an expertise in the field of comedy.  As an editor, I encourage my writers to offer balanced criticism, to think about who would like (or dislike) the show and write a review which offers a flavour of the show without giving away punch-lines.

Easier said than done, frankly.  As a publication we’re routinely criticised as being too soft, too hard, too alternative in our tastes, too mainstream in our tastes, being skewed towards story/musical/theatre shows, skewed towards stand-up, having no idea about comedy, being too involved in comedy, not covering enough locals, going too soft on locals…. and on and on and on.  There’s no accounting for taste, so the saying goes, and no matter what a reviewer’s taste, there is always somebody else with a different taste.

Paramount for us is not what a comic thinks of their review, though I can think of more than one occasion where I’ve felt horrible publishing what I knew was a fair (but not positive) assessment of a show.  Our job, as a reviewer, is to give audiences an accurate idea of what to expect of a show.  Regardless of how the performer feels.  And while it is true that there are reviewers out there who enjoy nothing more than to sink their teeth into any perceived weakness in a show, or see a show with the attitude that the performer will have to work damn hard to get any positive words from them, for the most part they are rare.  And they certainly don’t work for me.  Most reviewers love live performance, and they write about it because they want to dissect it, discuss it, discover it.  They are looking for the good in a show, not the bad.  Unfortunately, if they don’t acknowledge the bad where it is found, all of the reviewer’s work is useless.  A review only serves its purpose if it is able to enlighten the audience to the good/bad/relevant/salient points of the performance, so they can make their own choice about whether the show is for them.

What a reviewer want and a comic want are actually the same thing.  To get an audience who will enjoy the show to see it.

It should also be noted at this stage, half-way through the festival, that myself and a few fellow reviewers (or serial comedy audience members) have been pleasantly satisfied by many shows, but seem to universally wondering where the surprise, that gem of hidden magic, is to be found in this year’s festival. So far the buzz seems to be centred on only a few shows; The List Operators, Sam Simmons, Celia Pacquola, Suitcase Royale. Having seen only one, I can’t really comment on them individually.

That’s all for my brief update. I’ll now return to my bed in hopes of recovering enough to see Tim Minchin on Wednesday night, which I’ve been looking forward to for weeks. Expect a temper tantrum if I’m not well enough to attend.

I hope the laughs have been flowing thick and fast for you.

For Ruby (Hannah Norris) who has just moved to Melbourne, a chance meeting with comic Jason Harrington (Hamilton) leads to an unlikely friendship and a developing interest in the local comedy scene.  Through their quirky friendship, she is forced to confront the past she’s been moving away from since leaving her hometown of Canberra, and a future she can’t quite face yet.

From the moment Hannah Norris takes to the stage she shines as Ruby, part obsessive in her need for routine and order, part desperate for that special something that will make her life interesting or unique.  Hamilton has written a truly likeable character, and has gifted her with some great dialogue.  She doesn’t play straight man to his funny man, nor is she a prop for a story about him.  This is a show about Ruby, and Hamilton has done well to play Harrington as a second fiddle to her narrative.

The performance follows their developing friendship as Ruby watches Jason Harrington’s stand-up, a hyper-intense and slightly tongue-in-cheek version of the kind of comedy Hamilton himself performs.  Off stage, Harrington’s brash attitude and lazze-faire approach start to filter into Ruby’s life, pushing her outside her comfort zone.

As the story develops, it is clear that Hamilton has written and developed a great script which tells an engaging story that doesn’t fail to draw the audience in.  In the early minutes Hamilton distracts by performing, in true comedy style, directly to the audience rather than to his co-star, but this disappears as he warms up and the audience is drawn into Ruby and Jason’s world.

It’s a playful, and surprisingly touching, piece of theatre which succeedes where many comedy/theatre pieces do not.  The tight narrative, with requisite twists and turns, allows for the all-knowing winks and self-referential humor to sate the funny requisite without neglecting the drama.  Instead of being told a story, we are able to take a journey, which is where most plot-driven comedy pieces fall short.  This is a memorable and enjoyable show to catch amid the many regular stand-up shows.

Essentially, as Pacquola explains, she often finds herself wondering if she’s strange. Do other people have the same kind of inner monologue, or her weird and wonderful thoughts? Happily for the audience, the answer is a mixture of yes and no. As Pacquola delves into the inner workings of her mind, there is plenty there for us to relate to. Everyone sometimes wonders if their brain is with them or against them, or if the strange thoughts they have are similar to those of the person next to them. Equally as satisfying is the revelation that yes, Pacquola is a little strange. Some of her thoughts are completely out of left field, and delightfully so.

Pacquola ties the show together by taking us through the tale of her truly awful relationship break-up. Unfortunately this was where the discord emerges. As Pacquola talks through the dire experience, she dips in and out of the story and how her mind reacted to it all. While the narrative draws the audience into her world, it also leaves much to be desired in terms of creating a ‘story’, often raising more questions than it answers, and leaving loose ends aplenty. It unfortunately takes us out of the intriguing world of her mind, and distracts from how and why Pacquola is strange. It was almost as if there were two strong shows; Pacquola’s break-up, and the weird and wonderful world of her mind, which she has attempted to combine into one show.

Despite this, it is to Pacquola’s credit that the show remains so strong. Director Geraldine Hickey has done a fantastic job, her deft touch is obvious, and the previous season at the Melbourne Fringe Festival has led to this polished performance. There is much more to enjoy than find fault with in Am I Strange?, and is an impressive first solo show for MICF.

I did manage to catch up with one of our reviewers in the Peter Cook bar, where I happily traded horror stories about the audiences at Russell Brand’s Melbourne shows (apparently they were equally as bad at the Hamer Hall gig as the gig I attended at Palais).  After the too-brief bar stop it was off to Mike Wilmot, where, predictably I laughed and found myself appalled in equal measures, which is the point of his show.  After ducking in to Ali McGregor’s I was horrified to find that one of the guests for the evening was Jim Jeffries.  After sitting through an hour of his show already, I just couldn’t face the idea of attempting to sit through him again.  I’m ashamed to admit I bailed.

Tonight is a pleasing combination of Denise Scott and Andrew Lawrence, two shows back to back, then home again.  There is a bunch more work required to get all our reviewer’s hard work up so I’ll be tapping away until the wee small hours I expect.  Only one writer has reported seeing a horror of a show, so lets hope the standard remains high.  Very happy to see Richard McKenzie receive such a great review as his show is one I’m looking forward to seeing myself.  Tomorrow night is Daniel Kitson… very, very excited.  Can’t wait.

1. Adam Hills

Don’t get us started on Adam Hills.  We’re fans.  Big fans.  While he sometimes cops it for being “too nice”, Hills is a rare comic.  He remains relevant, likable and cheeky in just the right doses.  His many years of performing to live audiences all over the world have helped him become one of the most consistent, crowd-friendly shows you’ll find in the festival.  Never failing to meet expectation, and often exceeding it, this is a comic who you can consider a sure pick.  Spicks & Specks is a great show, but we’d take an hour of one-man comedy from Hills instead any day.

2.    Lehmo

Not just that-guy-who-talks-about-footy-on-the-telly, Lehmo is a talented comic… and apparently, a recovering accountant.  Affable and charming all at the same time (if a ‘bloke’ can be charming), Lehmo returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with another strong show.

3. Lawrence Leung

Lawrence Leung has been on our screens for a little while, but his first series, Lawrence Leung’s Choose Your Own Adventure has only been on air for two weeks thus far.  The ABC series is already proving a hit, and if you like the television experience you’ll love him live.  Leung has been a favourite of the festival scene for quite a few years, and is yet to deliver a show audiences don’t love.  This year sees him re-team with fellow Melbourne comic Andrew McClelland for their show Tim Ninjas as part of the Comedy@Trades season.  These two can both tell a tale, so without even having seen it yet, we’re confident that audiences are going to love it.

4.    Andy Muirhead

Your Nanna is probably crazy about Andy Muirhead, that lovely guy who presents Collectors on the ABC.  Don’t let that fool you.  There’s a lot more to this young comic than a fresh face and a keen smile.  He’s well worth taking a look at this year as he returns to the festival for only two shows at the State Library of Victoria.

5.    Wil Anderson

Glasshouse may be over, Gruen Transfer may only give him the chance for a quick quip, but Anderson is a staple of Australian television by now.  Many love him, some hate him, but it can’t be denied that Anderson knows how to work a crowd.  Standup is what he does best, with his frantic energy and carefully crafted shows making a whole lot of hard work look deceptively simple.  Anderson takes his craft seriously, and it is apparent any time you see him walk on a stage.

Meanwhile, on exiting the show, I was pretty impressed to see the giant line for Sammy J’s show… looks like being on the gala really does help your numbers!  Second excitement, stopping off at the ‘cyber centre’ in the main foyer of Melbourne Town Hall to write this post I was chuffed to find Safari already open to… you guessed it… The Pun.  Awesome.  Glad to see people are using the site at home and while they’re out on the comedy prowl.

Second show for the night is Jim Jeffries, which will be my first international of the festival.  No idea what to expect, which is always nice for a Friday night.  And now, as I wrap up to head off to the show, Mike Wilmot is in the foyer encouraging a little girl (his daughter?) to point him out on the wall of posters…  you never know who you’ll run into out here.

Don’t forget to start sending in your SMS and twitter reviews – we’ll update you on the full prizes for our favourite reviews soon – and our full reviews will also start pouring online shortly.

Compared to the packed-in crowds at the Bella Union Bar at Trades Hall on opening night, MTH hub was relatively quiet as I headed in to the first 7.00pm show.  By the time I emerged, though, those 8.00 crowds had started to assemble for the big names, crowds snaking around corners, and the place started to look alive.

Taking a quick break between shows at the Vic Hotel proved very entertaining as we overheard some industry gossip and lots of buzz about who was seeing what already.  Seems quite a few other people were impressed with Pacquola’s show.

Second show at Vic Hotel, Mathew Keneally, proved me right as it sent my companion into convulsive laughter.  It’s nice when you convince someone to come along to a show and enjoy it as much as you hoped they would.  The political humor was spot on, and this first preview showed Keneally is in for a positive festival.

Ducking out early, I headed home to check in on the website, keep an eye on the online goss and prepare for a big weekend of comedy ahead.  I suspect my reviewers are having as much fun as I am, given we’re all up for a huge amount of shows over the next few days.  Fingers crossed the crowds come out in full force, helping word of mouth spread quickly about the talent on offer this year.

This year Festival Club also has some exclusives to offer.  Each week a new headline act will take the stage for four nights only, traveling all the way from America to make us laugh.  And you won’t see them anywhere else.  Week one kicks off tomorrow, Thursday 2 April, with Mario Joyner.  Here’s the lowdown on what to expect in the first week.

Thursday April 2nd
Mario Joyner
MC Mickey D
Boy with Tape On His Face
Neil Delamere
Felicity Ward
Smart Casual
Arj Barker

Friday April 3
Mario Joyner
MC Dave Williams
Andrew Lawrence
Sarah Millican
Brendon Burns
Josh Thomas
Henning Wehn & Otto Kuhnle (1000 years of German Humour)

Saturday April 4
Mario Joyner
MC’s Jason Byrne & Adam Hills
Claire Hooper
Tim Vine
Russell Kane
Randy the Puppet
Wilson Dixon

Sunday April 5
Mario Joyner
MC’s Die Roten Punkt
Axis Of Awesome
Pajama Men
Geraldine Quinn
Sammy J

There are some damn funny ladies who perform in this country.  In no particular order, we suggest:
1.    Upfront

Previously known as Upfront 8 (owing to the fact that eight performers usually graced the stage), Upfront is testament to the breadth of female talent in comedy.  No longer a show featuring eight comics, it has now expanded to offer more ladies and more laughs.  A great opportunity to see a range of funny women strut their stuff, a great place to happen upon new talent you might not have seen before.

2.    Judith Lucy

The undisputed queen of Australian comedy, this is Lucy’s 20th year of performing comedy.  Those years have honed her talents into a style uniquely her own, and made her an icon in her own right.  As an author and media personality Lucy is outstanding, but as a comic she is pure genius.  Don’t miss the chance to see a full hour of her mind at work.

3.    Hannah Gadsby

Did you see her on the Gala?  If, like us, that brief grab made you want to sit down and listen to what other magic may come from this talented woman, you’ll be pleased to hear Gadsby has three shows in the festival (not including her spot in Upfront, which takes the count to an impressive four).  Her solo show, her show with Monica Dullard and her tour of the NGV.  All are sure to have you laughing… which is kinda the point, yeah?

4.    Josie Long

Long visits us from the UK again this year.  Her 2008 season at the MICF saw her earn a Barry nomination to add to her if.comedy  Newcomer Award Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 2006.  Each year at the festival there are a few internationals that don’t yet have a huge profile here, but prove to be must-see shows.  Long’s performance promises to be a stand out.

5.    Courteney Hocking

Hocking is all about politics and pop-culture.  But mostly politics.  Her previous shows have proven that she is a home-grown local talent to look out for, and one of our personal favourites.  She has written for Good News Week, performs regularly as part of the popular Anarchist Guild Society and has numerous solo shows under her wings.  Hocking is whip smart, with a likeable stage presence that lulls you into a false sense of security.  That is, until she applies that trademark wit in razor sharp fashion, making you realise there’s nothing fluffy about her… or her take on politics.

For those interested in free tickets or special offers, you should be checking us out on twitter, which is where we offer all of our deals first.  Join us at http://twitter.com/micf

Email us and tell us what you’d like to see in order to be in the running for these tickets at lefa (at) anewleaf.com.au.

Danny McGinlay – Food Dude

For too long professional chefs have dominated the food entertainment industry with patronising tales of their own brilliance. But who needs hand picked truffles when the best meals are invented out of creativity at 3am?

A live cooking demonstration for the anti-cook.
Part cooking show – part science experiment.

“Hilarious…Stunning…Just don’t book him for a catering gig.” The Age

Courteney Hocking is Miss Right

Peter Morley Didn’t a Comedy Show (or That Toilet Thing Either)

We hope you’ve already marked your Must See shows in the festival guide.  If you missed it in the paper check all your usual cafes and outlets to pick one up, or visit the much improved festival site.  It was built by our friends at Monkii and they’ve done a fantastic job in putting together a place where you can organise your whole festival diary!

This year The Pun will morph into an even greater online community for you to enjoy the full festival experience.  Expect blogs, expect twittering, expect as much content as we can cram into your tiny little computer screen.  We’re excited about these developments, and look forward to sharing them with you in the lead up to the festival.

As per usual, we’ll deliver all the madness of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to your inbox and RSS feeds during the festival.  There will be bi-weekly email updates on all our coverage, but the website will be here for you to play with 24/7.  New reviews will be published daily, regular columns will appear throughout the week, and feature articles will find their place on the front page.

In the meantime, you’ll be hearing from us.  Expect a thorough report on what we’re looking forward to seeing before the festival kicks off, and some information to whet your appetite in anticipation of the laughter to follow.

Unfortunately, we won’t be publishing for the festival this year. The past twelve months have seen us (editors Tim Norton & Lefa Singleton) adventuring on far distant shores… well, Western Australia anyway. It’s been a challenging year for us creatively with lots of exciting projects. It will be strange to be far away from all the action for a full festival. We recommend you head to the ever-amazing staff in the information booth at the Melbourne Town Hall for recommendations and the low down on what’s going on.

Don’t forget to head over to Trade’s Hall, where the collection of shows is easily the best you will find in one spot. It’s a great venue with plenty to explore.

In the meantime, we wish you a merry festival and look forward to updating you on new Melbourne projects soon.

Between now and next year we encourage you to get out and see as much local comedy as you can. We’re so lucky to have all this talent at our doors, and you should all take advantage while the ticket prices are cheap throughout the year!

Next year we will, unfortunately, be on hiatus and will miss not publish the magazine or here online for the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Keep an eye out for our other adventures as we head off to Perth to cover more festivals in the Western Frontier over the next twelve months.

Go you big red fire engine!