We’ve long admired Kitty Flanagan’s witty TV work: Fisk (which she wrote, directed and starred in), Utopia (she plays Rhonda) and also as a regular panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention?
So how does her stand-up measure up?
Kitty tells us this is her first time performing as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival since she moved here from Sydney in February, 2020 – just before our endless series of lockdowns – and quips, “Never has a comedian had better timing”. Her comic form is impeccable throughout and Kitty is effortlessly hilarious, especially while mimicking old ladies, teens with ‘tude and her ageing mum’s “random behaviour”. Penny Flanagan (remember her folk duo, Club Hoy?) materialises, brandishing a guitar. The sisters then perform a catchy little tune they penned about the big underpants they favour these days.
Kitty’s whip-smart observations often blend comedy with relatively serious subject matter – unnecessary dental procedures, serious health scares, dick pic scams, menopause – and it’s therapeutic to LOL about such things. But it’s her flair for the ridiculous that most cracks us up (eg. suggesting we need Where Did I Come From?-style books to guide us through the later stages of life and performing a West Side Story-inspired song and dance routine to let an oblivious dog owner know their pooch just pooped).
Pre-show music: Elvis.
Best bit: Kitty’s FWS (Fart Warning System) failing her in Spotlight.
Audience participation: the gent who explained Amazon Alexa to Kitty: “It controls the house.”
Number of legit LOLs: Too many to count and needed to mop up tears from cry-laughing at least three times.
Grab tickets to Kitty Flanagan Live! by heading here.
