MAN ABOUT TOWN

As evidenced by UK performers New Art Club, it’s entirely possible to successfully fuse comedy and contemporary dance. Unfortunately, this 50-minute show by WAAPA-trained dancers Helen Duncan and Quin Orton and deadpan UK comedian Jayde Adams fails to consistently combine its constituent parts. Consequently, it often falls flat. Material about awkward encounters with ex-boyfriends, the pressure to impress in nightclubs, and the rules and rituals of women’s friendships is insightful and finessed, but the inclusion of a video sequence about online dating, while droll, jars. An early montage of 80’s dance moves also feels forced. Missed sound cues and poor lighting further disrupted proceedings on open night. Duncan, the oldest of the three performers, moves with skill and precision. The ganglier Orton’s performance is effective but less focused. Adams, originally from Bristol, sometimes struggles to translate her English references and subject matter. Overall, more miss than hit...

It’s not often that a Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show includes references to Calliope, the Greek Muse of epic poetry; dead Dutch post-impressionists; cult English science fiction TV shows; blogging; and in-jokes about the perils of loaning money to certain other Melbourne comics. Then again, Justin Hamilton is not your usual stand-up comedian. For 18 years, festivals have played a significant part in Hamilton’s life and career, during which time he’s been lauded, awarded (including both the MICF comedian’s choice award, The Piece of Wood, and The Directors' Choice Award) and critically acclaimed. His latest show, The Goodbye Guy , sees Hamilton bowing out on a high; this is, we are informed, his last MICF show for the foreseeable future. That’s a great shame. Thankfully for audiences, the result of Hamilton’s decision to walk away from the festival circuit while the going’s good is a damn good show – and a meta one. The Goodbye Guy sees Hamilt...