How
can we laugh as the world slides into chaos? Loudly, and with gas masks on.
Review: Canada's DeAnne Smith was the Best Newcomer at the inaugural
Time Out Sydney Comedy Awards, so it's particularly gratifying to report that Ballsy contains everything that we loved about her two
years ago - the wit, the language, the out-of-nowhere sideswipe punchlines -
and adds plenty of new elements. Like, for example, ukelele numbers
(which are very fresh indeed: this show was only the second time she'd performed
her ‘No Worries' song), a touch more personal material and noticably greater self-confidence
on stage, which manifested itself in an impressively tenacious refusal to, for
example, accept an audience member's decision to move to the back of the room.
She's also gotten a good deal more filthy, which works beautifully given the
contrast with her adorably perky on-stage persona (the audience were particularly
enamoured of her piece on the similarities between lesbian sex and cricket: "You
just need to stay at the crease"). Throw in her hilariously incongruous attempt at a mainstream-comedy
catchphrase and an extended riff on new racist stereotypes and you have a show that
demonstrates that Smith's days as a cult dyke comic are numbered: this gal's ready for the big leagues. Andrew P Street
What
punchline have you longed to find a joke for but never quite managed? "That's what she
said." I just can't seem to
find any fitting scenarios to precede that, try as I might.
If
you could call a moratorium on one over-used stand-up premise, what would it
be? It's not
a premise, but I'm really tired of the fill-in-the-blank "And by ---, I
mean ---." And by "tired
of" I mean "in love with."
And by "And by---, I mean ---," I mean
"Vegemite." I'm in love
with Vegemite, is what I'm trying to say.
Bill
Hicks or Bill Cosby? I
love both those guys. But if the
competition were colorful sweater-based, I'd have to go Cosby.
Does
your mother approve of your career choice? Whoa. Why do you have to bring my mom into this? Watch it.
What's
the one subject that you've never been able to make a joke about? My mom. Actually, that's not true. I used to
talk about her alcoholism on stage a lot. It's way cheaper than therapy!
If
your comedy was a musical genre, what would it be? Heavy metal transposed for the ukulele. Charmingly
bitey.
Of
what comedian would you most like to hear about the mysterious, asteroid-collision-related
disappearance? I think this question says much more about you than me. Are you alright? Why so much anger? Do you want to talk about it?
Complete:
Two men walk into a bar... ...ramundi.
What
do you want to be when you grow up? A librarian.
What's
the funniest thing about Sydney? Last time I was in Sydney, I got sexually assaulted by a
midget in a tiny tuxedo. That was
kind of funny.
In
30 words or less, explain what your show is about and why everyone should go
and see it. It's
part jokes, part stories, and all balls, with a ukelele song or two. It's always a bit different and it's
fun! If you hate fun, please don't
come.
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