Dave Callan returns to the Comedy Festival this year with his show O+
Dave Callan returns to the Comedy Festival this year with his show O+, awn exploration of what happens when you ask 100 women 100 questions. The hirsute comedian, who made his way to Melbourne via Ireland and Perth talked about some of the more interesting answers to come out of the show.
“[When] I asked ‘what’s the most bogan thing you have ever done?’ Someone said they hung out all day in a paddling pool in a singlet and underpants drinking a slab and swearing at the neighbours. Another said they pissed out a camp fire. Which I imagine being quite a fraught activity for a woman.”
What was his favourite question to ask? “’What do men do better than women?’ Was an interesting one. I thought it was a chance for women to share some things they thought were positive about the other gender. Instead I got answers like ‘lie’, ‘start wars’ and ‘masturbate’.”
Callan has featured on many a panel show, but his appearances on Spicks And Specks seem to be his favourite. “I did Spicks And Specks Live at the festival in ‘09 and Alan, Myf and Adam are brilliant to work with because they are so generous to their guests, they encourage you and give you lots of room so… the show is full of positivity and humour. And raw sex appeal.”
Another favourite to work with is Sam Simmons. “Sam Simmons and I did a surreal sitcom called Sunshine Factory and he was great to bounce off. It was terrible when we started and grew into something magical because we kept pushing each other and recognising the good in each other.”
The final question’s a tricky one: would he rather not wash your towel for three months or your bedsheets for three months? “I think I would keep washing the bedsheets and drip dry glorious naked and glistening in the midday sun. Unfortunately I only have a front balcony facing a car park. To avoid a indecent exposure charge I will put a small white card on my wall like those hung in an art galleries that says Self Portrait Of The Artist Drip Drying In The Nude, Human On Concrete, 2011.”
Dave Callan performs 0+ at Arthur’s Bar at Rosati March 31 – April 24. It’s at 7.15pm Tuesday – Saturday and at 6.15pm on Sundays. Tickets are $10 – $19 and available through Ticketmaster online, 1300 660 013 and at the door.
