MICF 2011 review: SAM SIMMONS AND THE PRECISE HISTORY OF THINGS


Mining a rich vein of absurdist humour, and utilising a selection of lo-fi props, including a cardboard spaceship and a series of flipchart cartoons, broadcaster and comedian Sam Simmons’ latest show baffles and delights in equal measure.

The Precise History of Things is nominally a collection of responses to letters and emails Simmons has received at JJJ; the jumping-off point for a collection of sketches that range from toilet tips for men to an opera set in the Mexican food aisle at a Coles supermarket.

Transgressing both audience boundaries and traditional narrative structures, and featuring everything from nudist pinecones to shorts-wearing moths, the dream-logic progression of Simmons’ manic performance conceals a subtle concern for the petty cruelties of modern life. Not every element is completely successful, but anyone who can turn a packet of Continental Creamy Alfredo Pasta Sauce into an object of hilarity is truly deserving of praise.

Rating: Four stars

Sam Simmons and the Precise History of Things
Melbourne Town Hall until April 24
Tue-Sat 9.45pm, Sun 8.45pm

This review originally appeared in The Age on Wednesday April 6.

Comments

Anonymous said…
This is absurdist humour, but very accessible and really, really, funny. Just go. Sam played to a well-deserved packed house last night and the crowd loved it.
13/4/11 09:31
Anonymous said…
I saw this show last night and walked out. It was dreadful. To be fair, there were moments of ok but really it turned into a rant opportunity for Sam. Really disappointing show. This guy is really overrated.
16/4/11 08:52
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