MICF: 5 Shows Not To Miss at the 2013 Comedy Festival

Danny McGinlay
Danny McGinlay

Our regular Melbourne International Comedy Festival correspondent, Danny McGinlay, gives us his top 5 picks for the 2013 MICF .

Melbourne International Comedy Festival is here again my friends.

As I bring to you my now annual list of great shows to watch I add a disclaimer this year:

Yes, I am very aware that my list is five white heterosexual males with little to no hair. I’m afraid in the art form that is stand up comedy, that demographic makes up 75% of the market, so rather than pretend it’s not happening let’s celebrate it, because these five blokes are good at what they do.

1. Xavier Michelides – Good Morning.

Xavier Michelides
Xavier Michelides

This was the best thing I saw at the Adelaide Fringe. Xavier performs one man sketches all loosely based around the subject of mornings. He’s a five star performer who deserves to be knocking them dead on Broadway. Instead he’s performing at MICF. Do not miss this show.

@XavMichelides

See Xavier at the Forum Theatre 8.30pm now!

2. Jacques Barrett – The Contrarian

Jacques Barrett
Jacques Barrett

Jacques is a Sydney based boy from country Queensland, so he says it how he sees it. Normally this trait makes you a complete arsehole. Thankfully Jacques is a thoughtful clever dude, so he only comes across as a bit of an arsehole. When the Comedy Festivals aren’t on he’s slugging out strong sets in all the big clubs in Australia and the UK. He’s match fit – do it.

@jbcomedy

See Jacques at Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 9.45pm now!

3. Brad Oakes – An Elephant in the Room

Brad Oakes
Brad Oakes

Oakesy has been doing comedy for longer than you’ve been alive [possibly]. He’s an elder statesman of the scene and one we all look up to. This show is about how he beat his battle with a possibly life threatening illness, a great story by anyone’s standards, but in Oakesy’s hands, this will be one for the ages.

@Brad_Oakes

See Brad at Hairy Little Sista 9.30pm from April 9th

4. Gavin Baskerville – Crunch Time

Gavin Baskerville
Gavin Baskerville

Gav pretty much runs the Tasmanian Comedy scene, and is one of the friendliest blokes in the country, but his charm completely belies how savagely clever his comedy is. His is a truly gifted and hard working comic mind. If/when I get my Tonight Show hosting gig, Gav will be the first person I hire. Go see why.

@gbaskerville

See Gavin at Three Degrees 9.45pm from April 9th

5. Daniel Connell – Mr Personality 1988

Daniel Connell
Daniel Connell

One of the trappings of being a white male hetero stand up with little to no hair, is you often fly under the radar. I always knew Daniel Connell was a decent act, but I gigged with him for the first time in ages in February, and realized he’s become a truly great act. See him before he’s famous/a bitter and jaded gambling addict.

@DanielC0nnell3

See Daniel at the Forum Theatre 8.30pm now!

Laughter prevents cancer! Go out and see shows my friends, for everyone’s sake!

 

Danny McGinlay’s show – Hypertonic is on at Hairy Little Sista from April 9th.

Obviously it’s even better than these five shows combined.

Follow @dannymcginlay on Twitter

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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