Presented by Frontier Comedy
Reviewed 10 March 2017
Immediately after this show I was conflicted as to whether or not I provide extra air to the work I saw and the content within it. I decided to show the courtesy we show all acts who generously offer us a space in their venue and review what we see.
A few years back I saw this comedian in the Raw comedy state final. He put on a hilarious and edgy set, which included crass comments that were skilfully implemented in his comedy. So, going in for his latest show I knew there would be grotesque and blunt jokes with deliberate attacks on political correctness and personal sensitivities.
However, there was no comedic craft in his latest show. The usual blending of storytelling and overall production development can allow for dark and extreme humour to be part of a well-executed show in which any topic, no matter how provactive, controversial, or outright crude, can undergo comedic treatment. I didn’t witness any of that in this show.
The opening sequence sets the tone by using rape as the introduction, set up, and the punchline before moving on to the next topic. From there the show stumbles into trivialising child rape, domestic violence, elder abuse, suicide, infanticide, paedophilia, war crimes, sex crimes, and a horrendous list of topics that appeared to serve no real purpose other than for the performer to claim a status as ‘non-politically correct’ or in some manner ‘real’.
There have been quite a few shows I have seen and reviewed which contain many (sometimes a lot) of these topics but through the technique of the productions, and skill of the cast and crew the intent of these topics in the show is clear, even if its main purpose is to be crass.
At the end, there was no way I would applaud this show.
Reviewed by Alex Dunkin
Twitter: @AlexDunkin
Rating out of 5: 0
Venue: Top of the Ark, Arkaba Hotel.
Season: 3-11 March 2017
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: $35.00
Bookings: https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/alex-williamson-make-the-world-a-banter-place
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