Image: Nath Valvo’s Tongue in Cheek; photograph courtesy Perth Comedy Festival.
Like most ‘entertainment extravaganzas’, Perth Comedy Festival has multiple shows in assorted venues at any one time, pitching giants of the scene against newbies – and 9:30pm on a weekday in the Perth CBD is not an easy time slot to fill, but Valvo dealt with the small crowd beautifully.
Fresh from a season at London’s famed Soho Theatre and comedy festivals on the other side of Australia, Valvo sets foot on stage and it is obvious he is used to playing to bigger rooms. But a rainy weeknight and 3 hours after ‘late night’ supermarkets allows for an anomaly that few have witnessed for what I am guessing would be at least a couple of years.
Valvo is a congenial fellow and made short work of welcoming audience members to opening night, remembering names and relationship types and peppering them through the show, to great effect.
This is situational comedy at its best and most will relate: to the tales of teenage angst, wearable technology, the ridiculousness that defines gym memberships, spandex wearing exercise junkies, punching above your weight in the dating world and the absurdity that was internet in the 90s. The obligatory dysfunctional family and dating app material is also there, but its cleverer than most and pant-wettingly relatable.
This is not just stand up. This is a TV show waiting to happen. It comes with a language warning and is for the sexually open minded and brave. It’s pure, natural fun that springs from a (relatively) young comic with seemingly no ego. He loves it and it shows.
Few cities in the world would allow comedy audiences to be so up close and personal to Valvo – who I pick to become one of Australia’s top funny men within the next few years.
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Tongue in Cheek
By Nath Valvo
Perth Town Hall
4-8 May 2016
Perth Comedy Festival 22 April – 15 May
About the Author
Victoria Wyatt has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.
