MICF: Misery – Neil Triffett

MICF
Misery
Neil Triffett
Enter Closer and Crowded
17 April 2019
Tasma Terrace
to 21 April
comedyfestival.com.au

Neil Triffett

There have been a lot of positive upbeat isn't-life-awseome shows this festival, so it was great to get back to the real source of comedy: Misery.

Misery, a keyboard, a ukulele and an opening song that's about being a self-indulgent performer.

Neil Triffett has had some difficult times, even if he is a white bloke in his 30s. There was being nine in 1996 and living in Port Arthur in Tasmania. It wasn't so much the horrendous massacre, but the assigned school counsellor with large breasts. And the later regret of not buying a goat in India.

Neil is at his best when he's singing. He songs are full of wit and character and are totally sing-along-able. He's also at his best when he's telling stories about himself. But this is a new work. There are lots of ideas that are still finding a way to come together and tell the bigger story that's clearly hiding in there.

It's also a personal work that leaves many questions unanswered. Neil genuinely connects with his audience, who are on his side and want to gang up on the people who have caused him misery. But we want to know more about his mum not being ok with him being gay, and the double punch of a break up at the same time a feature film didn't find its audience. When an audience are left guessing, they don't have the space to really connect with the performer. Or, audiences are total nosey parkers and want to know more.

And give Emo the Musical a watch on Netflix. Just because some critics were "ouch", doesn't mean there aren't lots of people who will love it.

MICF: Eric, Sammy J & Randy, and Ben

MICF
the last days

Eric
Vicious Fish & La Mama
comedyfestival.com.au

Difficult First Album Tour
Sammy J and Randy
Laughing Stock
comedyfestival.com.au

Ben McKenzie is Uncool 
Shaloin Punk
comedyfestival.com.au

Was it only 26 days?

Eric's back!

Last seen in 2009, Eric's a one-person sketch show. He's not a character but a blank page everyman – a white, 40-something, straight, suit-wearing, aging-well everyguy – who performs 27 sketches about such men.

Eric is Scott Gooding who's directed by Scott Brennan, and The Return of Eric is written by Emilie Collyer, Dave Hoskin, Karin Muiznieks, Morgan Rose, Neil Triffet and Nic Vellissaris.

From stopping a PM from jumping to adopting a manchild to heading down the Nepean* to escape hipstergeddon, Gooding changes character on a pin head and gives every Eric the chance to show their heart or fall on their arse. And with so many sketches in less than an hour, Brennan doesn't allow for a second of wasted time and ensures that there are moments to reflect before landing the next joke and meeting a new Eric.

As a form, Eric stands alone. Without the personal reflection of stand up or the safe distance of detailed character, The Return of Eric is able to bite all the hands that feed and to snap at the many worlds where middle aged guys think they are in control.

* As someone who had to head down the Nepean (to escape dick landlords rather than the hipsters), I think Brighton is still doing a good job of stopping the approach to Zone 2.

Sammy J and Randy are launching their Difficult First Album album. You can buy it at their show, Difficult First Album Tour.

With favourite songs and moments from past shows, it's a night for fans to celebrate everything we love about the housemates from Ricketts Lane. If you, somehow, have yet to fall in love with the genius of the bald purple fuzzy guy and his tall skinny friend, this is a chance to catch up on their story but a best of show is never as wonderful as a complete story.

Ben McKenzie is Uncool is about passion, never being afraid to love what you love, and the difference between a nerd and a hipster.

It also has one more night in Brunswick Street's Provincial Hotel. The nerds will tell you to bring your friends and will soon be wearing "I'm as uncool as Ben McKenzie" t-shirts; the hipsters will tell you that the show was only really good back in week 2.

Uncool is Ben sharing his stories about being a nerd. He's so nerdy that there's a card game to choose which stories he tells. With unfinished degrees, <joke> HTML </joke> and a love of Stegosauruses, the Harry Potter books and Doctor Who, I glowed with the warmth of knowing I'm uncool, but Ben proves that I don't deserve to call myself a nerd.

Ben's knowledge and obsessive fandom puts me to shame. He makes me want to read more and stop playing Candy Crush, because it really is a crap game that requires no skill.

Without a hint of cynicism, Uncool is about redefining our definitions of cool and about loving what we love with the kind of passion that would make Fonzie want to be a nerd.

This was on aussietheatre.com.au