Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014

Here are just some of the shows I saw at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, starting with one I performed in:
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100% Nuts – Third  Time Funny

In its third year at MICF, 100% Nuts was 11 comedians in one show.  Comedy smorgasbord with no salmonella!

CJ Delling

It’s embarrassing for the rest of us to see someone with as many well-developed comedic talents as CJ.  Luckily, she soothes away our embarrassment with relentless cascades of laughter.  The first time I saw CJ performing was serendipitous and I get the impression that most of her audiences would consider seeing her serendipitous too.  Surprisingly big fun!

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Michael Workman

As someone who enjoys thinking, I appreciate the ways that Michael Workman gets me thinking while making me laugh by delivering such lushly layered performances.  Or am I over-thinking it?  Who cares? I love seeing Michael Workman perform.  His new show ‘War’ was thought-provoking and entertaining.  If I had to do it over, I would not see other comedians on the same night as Michael Workman – he delivers so much it can keep you entertained and thinking about his show for at least the rest of the night.  Michael performed in the Melbourne Town Hall.

Milton Jones

I am eternally grateful to Milton Jones for making puns cooler than they were in high school.  I’m a big fan and so are all my aubergine grandfathers.  I took a mate to Milton’s show and unsurprisingly we have another Milton Jones convert!  Milton’s show was on in the Melbourne Town Hall.

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Celia Pacquola

Thanks to CJ Delling for recommending that I see Celia.  Celia did a sold out show at the Swiss Club and emptied out a handbag full to overflowing with great comedy.

Joel Creasey

With an all-out assault on my senses, Joel eliminated all laugh-defences.  Brutally funny.  Joel performed at the Swiss Club.

Ryan Coffey

I hate to see a grown man cry.  Especially when it’s me.  Except when I cry laughing.  And I’ve cried laughing every time I’ve seen Ryan Coffey live (four times in the last month).  And I don’t hate that.  In fact, I can’t wait to cry again.  Ryan’s 2014 MICF Show, Howlin’ was on at Hairy Little Sista Tuesday to Saturday during the festival.

Elena Gabrielle

OMG! This woman has more talent in her left thumbnail than most people have in their right thumbnails, and luckily you get to see much more of her talent than just her left thumbnail.

Seriously, Elena must have practised her arse off in several previous lifetimes to have so comprehensively mastered so many different entertainment skills. Her CV left me breathless – and then I saw: “The Shuffle Show” which Elena performs with Grant Busé.  The Shuffle Show beautifully showcases just some of Elena’s and Grant’s talents. I can’t explain: just go see it!  https://www.facebook.com/theshuffleshow

Sam Simmons

If the essence of comedy is a clash of context, Sam Simmons takes clever and silly and smashes them together in a Hadron Collider. Laugh explosion ensues. Significant laughter fall-out.