Kings of Comedy UncensoredPerformers: VariousAt: La Di Da cocktail barUntil: April 16Rating: ★★★★
By RENEE ARNDT
It’s hard trying to choose one comedian out of the thousands of shows listed at this festival, which makes Kings of Comedy a great event if you’re unfamiliar with the comedy world.
Kings of Comedy invites you to listen to a handful of comedians you'll either like or not, but it doesn’t matter because they are only on for about 15 minutes each, and they change from night to night.
Headliner for this night was Michael Chamberlin. He took a while to settle, but once his few beverages kicked in he had the room laughing. The most intriguing bit of his routine was when he was in the middle of some bestiality jokes and a woman abruptly left, yelling: “You’re sick, I have to go.”
Chamberlin pounced back, asking the audience if they actually thought he was in love with a horse and how idiotic the woman was to believe it. It was just a friendly reminder that all (well, most) comedy is built on scenarios created in an obscure universe – not reality.
During the first half of the show, we were welcomed by some local comedians: Sam Taunton, Simon Hughes and John Dore to name a few, and they all gave the audience plenty of laughs.
But the night's crown of King of Comedy should go to a Queen instead – Danielle Walker. Walker's refreshing, innocent and bubbly personality was in contrast to her witty jokes, which included awkward family incest jokes about Game of Thrones (which we all love to giggle at) and other gags about Christmas family time.
Walker continued to make the audience choke on their laughter joke after joke. Even though there was silence at a few of her punchlines, we all still walked home with a bellyache from laughter.
Young comedy star takes on mining magnate
Neel Before MePerformer: Neel KolhatkarAt: Roxanne Parlour, ChinatownUntil: April 17Rating: ★★★★
Leading in from an anecdote about his ex being bisexual, Kolhatkar decided to take on the subject of feminism in relation to Rinehart.
“I don’t know why Gina Reinhardt isn’t more of a feminist icon,” Kolhatkar said. He continued to list some surprisingly agreeable reasons you could see Reinhardt as a feminist leader.
“She’s inherited $75 million and still turned it into $10 billion. I don’t know about you, but if I inherited $75 million I wouldn’t be getting out of bed.”
The audience couldn’t hold back their laughter at every punchline. The points Kolhatkar made were so valid, he probably even converted some into feminist Rinehart lovers.
Kolhatkar continued on the political issues, pointing out that the richest person in Australia – Gina Rinehart (she isn't any more, but that's a minor detail) – is a woman, and making the connection to unequal pay between the sexes.
Kolhatkar, 22, revealed his age as he discussed the generational differences between Facebook and MSN. This was something the audience gobbled up – every single person laughed.
“Kids today have it easy, they are either online or offline,” he said. "Back in the day of MSN you could choose away, out to lunch, busy.” It was something the audience could relate to and chuckle about.
Kolhatkar presented the audience with a fusion of precarious subjects and hilarious punchlines. His impersonations, political jibes and risque edginess puts him among the top Australian comedians.