 |
Greg Fleet Palace Nova Thurs 2 March Greg Fleet has always had what I consider a rather unusual comic style, allowing him to start with an everyday premise and follow it to an entirely bizarre conclusion. This often makes for hilarity, but at the same time the illogicality of it all is just as likely to miss as it is to hit. Witness Fleet's latest show 'Word Up', at its heart about the English language but certain to take some detours along the way. It starts off well. Taking advantage of the venue, Fleet announces from off stage that the movie has been cancelled but that the Nova has roped in "the most fantastic man in the universe" instead. He got the audience laughing from the start and set up a cosy atmosphere. Good things looked to be in store, and indeed they were, but not all the way through. Part of the problem is Fleet's delivery. He tends to stop and start a lot, which means that even the funniest jokes can be followed by a lull as he inserts his next point. He is also incredibly deadpan, which is at the same time the key to his best material and the thing that sinks some of his weaker jokes. Most of all, though, Fleet is restricted by his theme. He seems more interested in the workings of language than he can ever make his audience, and yet he ignores some concepts that I think could have been funny as well as interesting: the history of swearing, perhaps. But I can't deny there is some excellent stuff here, like the mind games Fleet's daughter plays with him or the uncensored outbursts of children. And the finale, an alternate Australian national anthem called I'm More Australian Than Youse deserves to become a comedy classic.  |
|
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine