He’s been perfecting stand-up for a quarter of a century now and Danny Bhoy admits that lately he’s been questioning whether he’s achieved enough throughout the course of his career.
This latest show is the sequel to Bhoy’s “favourite-ever” show (2015’s Dear Epson…), which was inspired by the bloke who wrote countless letters to Red Bull, eventually suing the company (and winning $13 million!) because consuming their energy drink didn’t actually give him wings.
Dear World… commences with a reading of the complaint letter that inspired the initial concept, penned by Bhoy three weeks after purchasing a printer once the black ink cartridge ran out. This time around, Bhoy takes companies including Clinique, Olay, Gillette, Vodafone and ParkerGames to task over false marketing claims.
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He’s a good-looking rooster, sure, but Bhoy’s sparkling mind is his crowning glory. All hail the callback king! Even gags that Bhoy works in this evening are woven in later on as he edits on the fly like a boss.
“Turn the fookin’ thing orf!” Bhoy chastises as an audience member’s phone rings for the second time, mid-show. But once informed it’s a glucose monitor alert, he manages the situation with such grace and care that we suddenly realise Bhoy’s not just a hot comic genius, he’s also a beautiful person. And he even manages a callback – such a show-off!
While delivering his own brilliant, pre-written material – in letter form – Bhoy’s meticulous timing and razor-sharp wit are showcased to perfection. As the ridiculousness ramps up, we forget to breathe and wonder whether it’s possible to die this way.
At one point Bhoy jokes, “This is business class comedy” – perfectly put, sir. Dear World… causes sore cheeks for days afterwards.
Audience participation: Bhoy’s interaction with audience members arises from genuine curiosity. After locating a 13-year old attendee early on, Bhoy often refers back to Will, which is particularly poignant given that his final letter – which moves us to tears – addresses himself at that tender age.
Best bit/s: Hitler and Winston Churchill texting during World War II (particularly emoji selections). Bhoy’s Trump impersonation – accent, facial expressions, gestures and all. Oh, and also his impression of a mate answering the door after inhaling the “invigorating” scent of a Molton Brown candle.
Danny Bhoy’s Dear World… plays at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse until 20 April.
