The Scottish born comedian started his run of Comedy Festival shows on Sunday night, in grand style at the packed Hamer Hall. It is Bhoy’s eighth tour of Australia, which has not only enabled him to perfect the Australian accent, but fine-tune the relatable humour that’s now made him a fan favourite.
Putting the Sunday night time slot to good use, Bhoy opened by trying to convince the reluctant audience to enjoy themselves without stressing about work in the morning. It worked too, and before long everyone was in stitches with their minds far away from the office.
He worked the stage well, displaying plenty of theatrical comedy, and voiced serious concerns about performing in a room specifically designed for music – one that prevents noise from bouncing off the walls. He said comedy was best watched when the laughter can bounce back and fill the room, helping him appear funnier, but thankfully any fears of the great hall falling silent were quickly removed by the crowd’s deafening laughter. The only time he really failed to get a response was when trying to interact with a few non-interested crowd members, but that’s hardly his fault.
Bhoy’s comedy flowed as effortlessly as it was diverse, ranging from truly personal stories from his childhood to major concerns about the upcoming US election.
Bhoy even explained the story behind his set design too, which was a result of seeing the blues great, B.B. King – nothing more than a dark stage, his voice and a guitar. Similarly to the way Bhoy described King’s lyrics, his own stories could easily be considered simplistic, but sheer charisma, impeccable delivery and on-stage energy combined to create something truly unique and brilliant.
Admittedly, the first half of the show felt a bit clumsy, with Bhoy reeling off random thoughts and often asking the audience to remind him what he was talking about, but as the show progressed it actually became part of the charm. His natural ability to bring back from earlier in the show and continually connect stories clearly displayed the mind of a comic genius.
BY CHRIS BRIGHT
