In partnership with lawrence Money
There’s no question that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has something for everyone, whether you want to see improv, sketch, or good old-fashioned stand-up, the festival will have something for you.
That’s where Lawrence Money comes in, a long-time Melbourne newspaper columnist who has a sharp eye for the quirky. He’s bringing his unique take on the Aussie to this year’s festival.
After working as a journalist for decades, Money knows how to share his un-biased take on the world. With few opportunities to share his humour and real views in the newspaper world, he’s moved into the world of comedy.
Keep up with Melbourne’s latest comedy news, reviews and interviews here.
His show, Just a Little Prick, which he notes should be read with the banner above it, “He was scared of the jab but it was…” lets him share his views about the things that grind his gears.
“I pick apart some of the major retailers’ ads.” Lawrence says. “Harvey Norman makes gazillions, but never wants any money. No deposit, no interest, nothing to pay until who knows when? I guess they leave the bill to be paid out of their estate.
“Then there’s The Drain Man. Is there a sadder, more depressed voice on Melbourne radio? What the hell happened? Wife left him for a plumber with a bigger pipe? Why is Franco Cozzo’s furniture so ginormous? Did 20th century Aussie kids really eat Vegemite for ‘breakfast, lunch and tea’? That’s over 1090 slices of toast a year!” Each a question Money hopes to answer with Just a Little Prick.
The show is open to audiences and comedy fans of all ages, there’s no vulgar language throughout, everyone can come and have an enjoyable time. And yes, Lawrence is aware of the noticeable similarity between his name and that of Lawrence Mooney – even bringing it up with him at a show last year.
“Last year I attended his show, and the other Lawrence was kind enough to wait for me in the foyer after the show to say howdy. ‘We do get mixed up now I’m doing comedy,’ I told him. In fact, I tell a crazy story about that in my 2022 show.”
The world of humour has always been a constant in the life of Lawrence, who notes he still has his school report card from year eight, saying he might do okay once he realised life was more serious than he thought. He says he went on to take the piss in his newspaper columns for 38 years and is now doing it on stage.
Lawrence’s show is happening at Speakeasy HQ, with shows happening on select dates throughout this March and April. The venue holding a special place in the heart of the comedian: “It reminds me of the small Muse theatres my father Alan ran in the 1960s, first in Prahran then in Carlton.” Money notes some great comedic minds from many generations have been influential to him at points in time, making him a strong comedic force in Australia.
“As a kid, Laurel & Hardy and the Three Stooges. As an adult, Bill Cosby, Billy Connolly, Victor Borge, Barry Humphries and Jerry Seinfeld are in my top ten,” he says.
Writing scripts is not Money’s process, noting he jots down only reminder points, rehearsing a full show off the top of his head. He says he constructs his shows by recording ideas on his iPhone, which eventually become fully-formed. This allows the show to come across naturally and build a strong rapport with the audience.
“As the festival season approaches, I go for one-hour walks and listen to myself doing the show. I’m using guitar this year for some musical contrast. It helps make the thread of the show stick in the head.”
Catch Lawrence Money at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Just a Little Prick. Grab your tickets here.
