The natural fear with any given comedy showcase is that, inevitably, the lineup will be hit-and-miss. Headliners bucks the trend, with a quality all-American billing boasting rare consistency. With time divided between four talented comics – Myq Kaplan, Hari Kondabolu, Cristela Alonzo and Wyatt Cenac – you can be assured of walking away more than satisfied.
Kaplan (The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, Louie) slams his foot on the gas, so to speak, his knack for rapid-fire gags obvious from the outset. An impressively relentless comic, Kaplan’s rate of delivery is reminiscent of dominoes toppling over. He never misses a beat and barely pauses for thought during his entire time on stage. He’s acutely aware of his abilities too, categorising his craft as “Tetris” comedy. “When is a long one going come in and clear everything up?!” he jokes, as if to emulate a bewildered audience. Kaplan is easy enough to follow, though, as he expounds upon being Yoda-level drunk, as well as tried and true methods of determining whether you should have kids. Kaplan is in no better form, though, than when he recaps his experiences with marijuana. Headliners is a great platform for Kaplan, a hilarious comic capable of making a great impression in a short amount of time.
Meanwhile, Hari Konabolu (The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!) complements Kaplan’s lightning-quick comedic style perfectly. An astute opener on colonialism establishes his credentials as an intellectual character and, before long, you’re equipped cross-section of Konabolu as a performer: he’s cool, calm, controlled and excellent overall. His on-point analysis of our homegrown television, specifically its football-mad programming, was much appreciated. The fact that Konabolu expended time and effort to develop some local gear and connect with Australian audiences serves as a nice compliment. It also illustrates his dedication to his craft. In his brief time on stage, Konabolu also dissects the darker side of white chocolate and, rather audaciously, attempts a feminist dick joke. “Yes, it can be done!” he proclaims, drawing warm applause. Of course he nails it: Konabolu is a true talent and deserves his reputation as an exciting political comic.
Cristela Alonzo (Conan, Comedy Central) makes it three from three, inducing mild shocks via commentary on race. Her ability to playfully prod and poke at inequalities and past injustices is a pronounced skill and certainly not within every comic’s abilities. Alonzo really owns her Latina heritage, to such an extent that it’s actually a cornerstone of her act. It works, too: she writes about what she knows with a wonderfully effective “so wrong, it’s right” kind of comedic flare. One suspects that her racial material is a bit of a crutch, though: just when Alonzo seems to have transitioned into other material, she doubles back and treads familiar territory. She’s arguably at her best within these segments, but she has talent enough to play with ideas outside of the parameters she seems to insist upon setting for herself. In all likelihood, one spot is not representative of her comedy overall and it will be interesting to experience a full show when she makes a second visit to Australian shores.
Sporting a style reminiscent of a “high-school jazz teacher”, audiences will certainly remember Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, King of the Hill) for his unorthodox demeanor. In taking a seat and easing into his spot, Cenac exudes a distinct cool. There’s a sense of urgency missing from Cenac’s act, but it somehow still works: his controlled, super-smooth approach does bear a certain appeal. Highlights include a “bros before hoes” reinterpretation of bible verses, as well as a takedown of dread-locked folk singers. Cenac was nowhere near as punchy as his contemporaries but nevertheless proved enjoyable and offered up an alternative style to the rest of the comics on the bill.
Indeed, the chief strength of Headliners this festival is the obvious contrast between the comedians. The show has been curated perfectly, offering entree serves of a variety of comedic styles. You’re bound to enjoy at least one, if not all of the performers, each of whom are on the rise. Headliners is a go-to showcase this festival, particularly if you’re a fan of US comedy.
BY NICK MASON
