He’s been described as the intellectual’s comedian.
He’s been described as the intellectual’s comedian. He’s written a thesis and studied circus performance. He writes the funny bits for Good News Week. Now, award-winning comedian Dave Bloustien is back to stimulate Melbourne with his show, A Complete History Of Western Philosophy.
“I love philosophy,” says Bloustein. “I’m actually one of those complete wankers who reads it for fun. But I’m also a bit of an amateur, and writing this show was a way for me to get my head around the basics so as to better understand them myself. Then, after I’ve digested them, I can vomit it back up into my audience’s open brains like some bookish mother eagle.”
Not to worry, though, this show’s not just for the philosophy buffs. “I don’t think you need to know any philosophy to enjoy the show,” says Bloustien, “any more than you need to be badly drawn and yellow to enjoy The Simpsons.”
For the past eight years, Bloustien has had the funny switch turned on 24/7. On top of stand-up, he earns his bread and butter as a comedy writer for Good News Week. “The thing about a TV show is that when I’m doing best work, I’m invisible,” he says. “I’m writing the kinds of jokes that Paul McDermott would say. That’s not to say I don’t nick the ones that fail to make the broadcast, but they rarely work coming out of my mouth. Occasionally I’ll slip up and use a joke that did make the broadcast. Someone on Twitter once accused me of stealing my own joke, which is genuinely weird.”
Dave Bloustien performs A Complete History Of Western Philosophy at The Forum Theatre Ladies’ Lounge from March 31 – April 10. It’s at 7pm Tuesday – Saturday and 6pm on Sundays. Tickets are $15 – $25 and available through Ticketmaster online, 1300 660 013 and at the door.
