Veronica Milsom (of Hungry Beast, Mad as Hell and Triple J) presented her debut solo show at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a 45-minute live comedy experience that left the entire audience still smiling on exit.
The opening of Veronica’s act, held upstairs in the Five Boroughs, made me instantly aware that I was in for something other than a typical stand-up show. Props and costumes lined the back wall, attracting the audience’s curiosity while they waiting for the show to begin. When Milsom burst onto stage she took immediate control of the audience’s attention, blocking applause and starting participation from the get-go. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a creative opening to a show.
Milsom touted herself as a “less talented Sara Silverman” with a strong knack for impersonating her own mother and heckling Melbourne’s endless hipsters. I felt like I was witnessing an Australian one-woman SNL, with the host of props used to maximum effect and the stage strongly resembling my bedroom floor by the finale (although I own far fewer prison jumpsuits and Carly-Rae Jepsen CDs).
I’ve been a fan of Veronica’s work since her Hungry Beast days, but was unsure how her style of comedy would translate to live performance. Honestly, I’m angry at myself for ever doubting her brilliance. Every part of the show was clever and well thought-out. Every time you thought you may have guessed a punch line you would be disproved and amused, and I can’t wait to see what she brings to next year’s festival.
By Jasmin Ashton
@Jasmanna
Catch the last few shows of Veronica Milsom’s ‘Do Not Irony’, on at
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the Five Boroughs, Hardware Lane. Tickets $15-$20
.Photograph via Flickr.