Event Review: Dylan Moran @ The Enmore

Artist: Dylan Moran
Title: -
Date: 27 March 2007
Venue: Enmore Theatre, Enmore
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There comes a time in almost everyone’s life when for a moment, a musician, author, comedian, or artist manages to encapsulate and articulate something that mirrors your own life so well, that you briefly delude yourself into believing that they wrote or produced that thing solely “about me.” For myself personally, I had a moment similar to this when I saw Dylan Moran at the Enmore Theatre.

Moran, the Irish comedian who personifies his famous character, Bernard Black during much of his stage show, was talking about his latest foray into learning how to drive. The man, now in his mid-thirties bellowed, “What sort of metrosexual prick have I become when I can sit around and talk about Italian cheese for four days but I can’t even drive a car!” What can I say? Thanks Dylan, that observation describes me perfectly.

Dylan is a master of observational comedy. Unlike other comedians who occasionally focus on the inane minutiae of modern life, Moran manages to share his caustic wit with all and provide a highly entertaining show in the process. As he stands on stage amidst the cloud of smoke emanating from his cigarette, he is happy to venture to any topic and has no qualms about being politically incorrect. Suddenly, a look of disgust appears on his face as he looks at the back of a cigarette pack. He says, “You people disgust me. I didn’t know Australians smoked with their feet!”

From one vice to another, Moran chooses to speak about alcohol. First he observes, “All adults are just tall children that drink beer.” He then describes the fact that most people meet their prospective partners when they are completely drunk and off their face. He also notes that some people even go on to spend the rest of their life with someone they had met in this incapacity. And yet, “You wouldn’t buy a toaster when drunk (pause). Because that’s REALLY important.”

Moran is also a versatile performer because while he can embody the Bernard Black character so well, he can also show a softer side, as the father of his young children. He said that prior to having children, most people think that they are going to feed their youngster’s curiosity by teaching them about art, politics and the world. Unfortunately, you soon come to the realisation that children have their own questions like, “Does Batman have nipples?” and “What do you call the name of the space between the teeth on a comb?”

Moran provides an overall entertaining show. However, my only complaint would be that I would enjoy his show far more if it went for a little longer. But while Moran spends his time carefully preparing and setting up his jokes like a master craftsman, you get the impression that he is most happy to swan onto the stage, provide the crowd with his interesting diatribe and leave them wanting more so, that he can quote, “Hang out with other Irish celebrities like Van Morrison and Bono.”

Event Review: Akmal @ Riverside

Artist: Akmal Saleh and Joel Ozborn

Title: -

Date: 28 March, 2007

Venue: Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

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As a Riverside Theatre virgin it was with a degree of curiosity that I approached the show by comedians Akmal Saleh and Joel Ozborn on March 28. As this was the first occasion I had visited the venue I will spare you a long diatribe about the facilities. However, I will note that being seated inside this particular theatre was a little like being on the set of The Muppet Show thanks to the royal, plush chairs and three tiers of seating. And whilst I’m using the Muppets as an analogy, another apt description of the night would be best offered by the two older men from Jim Henson’s puppets, who typically sat up in the wings, “They weren’t half bad;” because while the show wasn’t the most hilarious one that I have witnessed, there were a few good jokes in the mix to keep the audience amused for an hour and a half.

The first comedian, Joel Ozborn, had a few reasonable jokes even if I had already heard some of the material in another incarnation by a different comedian. A prime example of this would be Joel’s talk about the name of the sporting goods store, The Athletes Foot. Now forgive me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure it was Jerry Seinfeld or possibly even Kenny Bania who made this observation on the sitcom Seinfeld back in the nineties.

Another unfortunate thing about Ozborn’s set was his song at the very end. Whilst I don’t doubt that the lyrics would have been amusing to hear, unfortunately I was unable to catch many of them because of the twangy vocal style Joel adopted. And judging by the audience’s reaction to this number, I don’t think I was alone.

Then it was time for Akmal. When he first came onstage he pretended that the video behind him was representing what he was actually thinking at that given moment. I found this to be initially interesting and a rather novel idea. However, after a few minutes it became apparent that Akmal was simply using this to have an egoistic argument with himself. This medium also ruined the of one of Akmal’s best jokes about a Spanish Firefighter. Thankfully, Akmal pulled the plug (literally) on this routine. punch line

Akmal’s repertoire of jokes was of a reasonable standard but they typically centred around capitalising on stereotypes (insert your own jokes about Campbelltown here to get a better idea.) There was also his observation about the suburb, Seven Hills and the fact it had no hills despite the name and that this was because quote, “the people from Blacktown stole them.” Unfortunately, another substantial part of Akmal’s set was devoted to banter (or should I say picking on) an audience member, “Adam.”

At two other points of Akmal’s set I was reminded of Ross Noble, who I had only previously seen live at the Enmore Theatre. This linkage was most salient during the talk about scuffles with customs officials. In addition, there was an extra joke from another one of Noble’s shows where he spoke ill of Fundamentalist Muslims only to pretend that he was scared, as he believed that these typical suspects would go to see one of his shows while en-route to some new terrorist act.

Finally, the evening ended with Akmal asking the audience if they had any questions (something I have noticed both Ross Noble and Danny Bhoy do during the encores of their performances too.) Moreover, Joel joined Akmal onstage where they gave the audience an interesting insight into life on the road and more specifically, the game these two comedians have devised and enjoy playing. The rules are that they have to go into various charity shops and purchase the most outrageous objects so they can be used in the show to hopefully generate a laugh from the audience. This was funny, albeit a little juvenile, and to be honest it is nothing new, as one only needs to watch some old Tommy Cooper routines to see a comedic master’s own eclectic array of props.

I personally loved Akmal’s sarcastic observation when he pulled out a rather long, odd-looking hairy piece of material. He apparently had asked the shopkeeper how much it was and when he was told that it was only twenty cents he acted shocked because (although he had no idea what it was) he had apparently been looking for something just like it all of his life. And there was one more sarcastic endorsement as the pair spruiked the virtues of an allegedly highly collectible vinyl record. This piece was considered so rare and widely sought after that this duo had felt extremely privileged when they had managed to acquire not one but five copies. Here’s to the next hundred kilometres where they might find another two copies to make for one full set, for every mood and weekday and because after all, this is what we call the Muppet show!