★★★½
Bendigo-bred Jai Cameron’s life is a comedy show that writes itself. If you had as many hilarious stories occurring in your own life as Cameron, you’d probably consider writing your own comedy show too.
Is it Just Me? recounts how a seemingly random string of disastrous events have occurred in Cameron’s life, with the comedian asking the audience at the end to vote whether events like that happen to everyone or just him. The stories range from a real case of blue balls to giving CPR to a woman to the tune of ‘Staying Alive’ and, together with Cameron’s clever societal observations, make for a side-splitting and engaging show.
Cameron puts it all on the line in Is it Just Me?. His observational humour and dry wit are comparable to the New York Comedy Club linchpins of the 1990s. For example, his observations about Tasma Terrace looking like a brothel had the audience blowing-hard with laughter.
Cameron centres Is it Just Me? around the story of a family trip to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney. The event is apparently a military spectacular (I had to look that up). It would’ve been good if Cameron had specified that to the audience because it could’ve been a tattoo exhibition for military personnel for all they knew.
While telling the story, Cameron goes off on various tangents telling random and facetious anecdotal stories. By doing this, he cleverly keeps the audience eagerly waiting to hear what happens next.
Cameron knows how to tread the fine line between political correctness and political incorrectness. In fact, he smashes that line and then stomps it’s teeth out. Those who are trigger-happy in a social justice sense should be warned that Cameron might rip you a new one with his crude and unrelenting humour. Nothing is off limits, not even Madeline McCann can escape his comedic wrath.
Is it Just Me? is Cameron’s second Melbourne International Comedy Festival show and comes off the back of his sold-out show Would You Like Fries With That?. He’s so fresh to the scene, he still has that new car smell. As a newcomer, he naturally has a few bumps to smooth over to develop his rhythm, but that only comes with time and experience. It would’ve been great to see some more audience interaction, especially when Cameron’s whole schtick is pushing boundaries.
However, for a newbie to sell out most nights of their shows is a great personal feat and an indication that Cameron is heading for an upward trajectory. He’s crowning now, but give him a few years on the circuit and he’ll be ready to pop out.
Cameron is a fantastic performer and strikes that perfect balance between intelligent observational humour and low-brow Sam Newman after a few drinks humour. Off-hand jokes are his niche and that charm will take him far in his career. Jai Cameron is definitely one to watch.
Highlight: After accidentally ordering a bus without wheelchair access, Jai Cameron asks the poor wheelchair-bound student if she could “try to walk up the stairs?”
Lowlight: He was sweating up a storm, but in his defence, it was very hot in the room.
Crowd Favourite: Inviting his dad on stage to demonstrate how to dance leading with your pelvis.
