Wild West Comedy Gala @ the West End Fest

Thursday Arts Hub - Lisette Kaleveld

12 February 2009

The Wild West Comedy Festival Gala Night at the Melbourne Hotel was a lot of laughs...the professionalism and entertainment value of five of Perth’s comedians being absolutely on par with any larger comedy festival. But, because this is Perth, where comedy is slowly starting to be recognised by local audiences, we had the privilege of enjoying such talent in a pleasantly intimate (and very comfortable) venue.

Jimmy James Eaton, now a well established name in comedy, was our host and MC, full of that loud, blundering wit and an audience winning smile. John Robertson followed with a high energy delivery and – my favourite style of comedy – his incredibly original twists and takes on the ordinary. James De Leo’s brought to the evening a different tone entirely, with a kind of edgy, dead pan intelligence. At first you don’t expect to laugh...and then you do. Then you don’t want to miss a beat. This was followed by the bouncing off the stage Zack Adams. He is like a helium balloon, so weightless, high-strung and excitable to the point of hilarity. Finally we were treated to a performance by the ballsy Ben Russell, with his string of stories that seem so authentic, a window into a life, and whose whole personality seems to beckon the audience to laugh at him/with him. 

The day after the Wild West Comedy Festival Gala night, I was still so tickled by a few of the jokes that I tried unsuccessfully to share them with friends. That’s when I learnt that these guys are true professionals. I won’t try repeating the jokes again, but I will recommend you go see the real thing next time you get a chance.

Arts Hub

7 November 2008

Wild West Comedy Festival Gala Night Nov 5, 2008

In the beginning there was just a stage and a microphone. Then, without fanfare, the Regal Theatre was filled to its lofty heights with words, stories, howls, songs and the razor sharp wit of Australia’s top comedians. Equally as raucous was the audience appreciation … in the form of uncontrollable squeals, and snorts (yes it came to that!).

We are now in the midst of the second annual Wild West Comedy Festival in Perth, and there are signs this could become a much loved and highly anticipated event. The event in its entirety features 30 shows, running for 26 days in and around Subiaco.

If you can’t make up your mind, the Gala night is the buffet option. It was like one great revolving door of giggles, with big name comedians (Tom Gleeson, Fiona O’Loughlin) performing alongside local talent (Ben Russell, Jeff Hewitt, Zack Adams, Dolores, John Robertson, Matt Dyktynkski..), each taking their turn to set the audience off into another dizzying fit.

It is always difficult to capture what it is about a particular comedian that is so clever and so ticklish. But as a bunch of performers and as an evening of entertainment, the WWCF Gala event certainly worked beautifully, with each comedian providing a different slant on “funny” with their signature humour. If anything, it showcased the incredible diversity within the comedy genre, revealing that the talent for making people laugh is not formulaic, but rather a skill that relies on and oozes individuality itself.

The real treat of the evening however goes to one individual who really stood out – and that is Dave Callan. Having him as our MC, we were lucky to be able to appreciate again and again the ability that he has to ensure a side-splitting delivery every time. He is truly a master of his craft.

For those living in Perth who still underestimate their city’s comedic talent, I suggest you either get out more often to the comedy evenings around Perth, or, at least at WWCF time, let the big names in Australian comedy lure you out of your house and onto the streets of Subiaco where you’ll soon discover too, a treasure trove of excellent local comedians.

Part proceeds from the Gala night went to Radio Lollipop, a charity that supports children in hospital.

 Lisette Kaleveld

Review ARTS HUB

Mon17 November 2008

Bob Franklin: Wild West Comedy Festival

Some comedy relies on that wacky, off-the-planet surprise element to generate a laugh. But Melbournian comedian Bob Franklin weaves a humorous twist into content so commonplace, any human being will immediately recognise themselves and their lives at the heart of the joke.

With this ability, Bob Franklin charmed the socks off the Perth audience at the Wild West Comedy Festival. Well known local personality Andrea Gibbs opened the show with her outlandish skits; her crassly funny histrionics making quite a contrast to Bob Franklin’s signature nonchalance.

Franklin, you see, is laid back, almost laconic. He takes his time, pauses, rummages through his bag of props, giggles to himself… It’s a soothing, intimate style that takes some of the ‘performance’ out of that relatively artificial stand-up situation. In all his ordinariness, Bob Franklin feels more like someone you might meet at a party.

But his witty take on the mundane, his obvious comfort on stage and quick-fire response to the hecklers – and gigglers – in the audience was brilliant (although his rapport with the audience was somewhat thwarted by frequent glances at his watch). So thank you Bob, you had me in stitches, and thank you to the Wild West Comedy Festival for once again producing a reliably uplifting performance.

Lisette Kaleveld