It’s no small feat to cram a decade’s-worth of killer comedy into one evening. On November 28, the Bergy Seltzer will take a crack at it, with a celebration and photo exhibition covering ten years of laughter, camaraderie, experimentation and stage bravery that is their regular Monday night comedy gig.
What began at the Brunswick Hotel as Funny in the Brunny has outlived the original venue, moving to the Bergy to be rechristened as Funny Near The Brunny. Free entry, cheap beer, and a few hours of laughs from newcomers, big names and everyone in between.
Funny Near The Brunny booker and MC, Glen Zen, and official photographer Michael Reynolds have been there since day one. “I was just starting in the scene,” Glen said, “I used to train with a pro-comic from the states at the gym, Ashley Fils-Aime, who pointed out the Brunny as a good venue, I emailed Frankie, and next Monday night we started the regular shows.”
Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and theatrical events, exhibitions, productions and performances here.
Michael had been taking photos at various poetry gigs as a hobby and was intrigued by the new show.
“I wandered in on the first day and asked if I could take photos,” Michael said. “It became a habit.”
Around 160 of Michael’s photos will be plastered across the walls of the Bergy during the anniversary showcase. Curating his archive was an unexpected challenge.
“I wanted to do 10 photos from each year,” Michael said. “Ended up with 30 from the first year. Cut down to 20. Thought I’d balance with 20 from this year – ended up with 40 instead. I was losing sleep over who to include. I really want to make it a salute to all the people who get up several times a week on open mic to hone their craft. Not just the big names.”
Like any great gig photo, there’s a trick to taking the perfect comedy snaps.
“I try not to take photos of their big moments,” Michael said. “It’s like giving away someone’s punchline, especially if they’re a prop comic. I just like to take photos of them having fun on stage or sharing a joke with a member of the audience. They’re always happy to see the photos online and up on the walls.”
“There’s not a show that goes by that I don’t see Michael’s photos end up as a comic’s new profile pic,” Glen said. “Michael’s like a birdwatcher photographing all the wild birds in their natural environment. Capturing their soul, going right in. It just blows my mind.”
View this post on Instagram
A huge range of comedians have taken to the Funny Near The Brunny stage every Monday, from prop comics to quick-fire one-liners and musical acts. Glen runs an eclectic show.
“I’ve been ringmaster of this weird circus for 10 years,” he said. “12 performers each time, they’re all unique. I always say, I’m gonna give you the stage time, do what you want. One week we had an Aussie guy singing in French, eating peanuts. Ended up being one of the funniest things I’ve seen. I’m happy to give new people a go, and you see in their faces what it means to be performing with big-name acts. I try to get interstate or international acts, too. Different people and different backgrounds. Don’t just want the same sort of people, keep each week diverse.”
And what are the highlights of ten years of diverse line-ups?
“One of my highlights was a musical duo from Canada – the Dirrty Show,” Glen said. “They do parody songs, and they had one of the best responses I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen so many grow from where we started, it’s great to know you’ve been part of it.”
“It’s good to see the seasoned comics and new ones getting up and you can tell they’re thinking to themselves, this is what I love doing,” Michael said. “Sometimes when there’s a line that bombs, it can be the funniest. They can recover. Sometimes you can see them doing it intentionally so they can deliver the save they’ve prepared.”
“I love to see someone like Lawrence Mooney up there, and see the newer comics reading the room and learning and bouncing off the previous acts,” Glen said. “In most shows there is a moment that really sort of hits me right there. I think it’s really brave. And they all feed off each other. And you see some are more brazen – and that’s the essence of comedy. You’ve got to be really daring.”
With the new Bergy bandroom opening in the new year, there’s an opportunity for even bigger Funny Near The Brunny events.
“We might do a showcase show, last Monday of the month,” Glen said. “Six performers rather than 12, doing a longer set.”
After Covid, comedy hit the ground running, drawing in crowds of folks needing a good laugh.
“Comics are constantly writing – they had two years, they were just bursting,” Glen said. “They need that one-to-one feedback of an audience, preferably a room full of strangers so you can test yourself – are they gonna laugh at it? The room will always tell you whether it works. Covid shows how important it is to treat entertainment with the respect and care it deserves. I don’t think comedy’s ever been more important. Or poetry or music. For people to live, not just exist. It’s a palpable magic.”
Whether you’re a long-time Funny Near The Brunny fan or a first-timer, this promises to be a standout night of standup. Swing by and celebrate the people who’ve been spilling laughter out onto Sydney Road for ten years, and share the joy of the team who makes it all happen, week after week.
Head to The Bergy Seltzer on November 28 for their special anniversary showcase, and then every Monday night for Funny Near The Brunny. For more information head here.
This article was made in partnership with The Bergy Seltzer.
