The Wonderland Spiegeltent, tucked away as it is in deserted Docklands, has none of the buzz that permeates the CBD during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. After some effort to find the venue (it’s located behind a shopping centre, underneath the skeleton of the non-operational Southern Star Ferris Wheel) the strains of Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ led us towards the Spiegeltent and its AstroTurf courtyard scattered with carnival trappings: a swan boat, a candy bar, a giant cartoon tree.
Inside, top 40 music was blasting and the lights were strobing, an odd fit for the mirrored, woodworked surrounds of a Spiegeltent.
Wonderland Carnivale is touted as an ‘astounding line up of Australian and International Top Headlining comedians, acts of intrigue and wonder, acrobatics and world class sideshow antics’. A couple of costumed performers in skimpy, shiny attire, Miss Candy and Hot Pop greet us. The pair also turns out to be the first performers to take to the stage, albeit with an underwhelming, cardboard burlesque song and dance routine.
The first comic act of the night was the Nelson Twins, who apparently got their break on Australia’s Got Talent. These longhaired, bearded identical twin brothers unsurprisingly relied heavily on their appearance for material, comparing themselves variously with Jesus, Chewbacca and drug dealers. This gimmick was not enough to carry the set, especially given their flat delivery. Dressed in matching yellow tracksuits and standing side by side, the twins took turns doling out one-liners. The jokes were in bad taste, and included subjects like doing the switcheroo on unsuspecting girlfriends and coming from a small country town. The duo induced more groans than laughter from the audience.
Lilikoi Kaos was by far the night’s highlight, a circus performer with coquettish and slightly deranged comic persona. Performing a hula-hoop routine while puffing on a cigarette was a neat twist. Her ever-expanding number of hoops, and physically demanding circus tricks were impressive. Kaos’ second appearance was a trapeze act performed above the crowd in glittering silver platforms and ripped fishnets, her acrobatic feats eliciting gasps and cheers.
After a short intermission, Miss Candy returned for a solo performance, this time with a graceful and well choreographed routine on the aerial silks hanging from the centre of the tent.
The headliner was US comedian Ian Bagg, who came out swinging and instantly won the crowd over with commentary about the wrong side of town we had found ourselves in, and the ‘wheel with no ferris’. Bagg prowled the stage, riffing on the Spiegeltent and its surrounds, and picking on people in the audience, giving them nicknames like ‘Beard’ and ‘Pyjamas’. The comedian’s talent lay in discovering personal details about the audience and weaving them throughout his set. Though this reviewer is personally not a fan of comics whose routines consist largely of making fun of audience members, there were many present who lapped it up, and also a few who, instead of squirming, relished the chance to interact with the performer. Bagg’s set was dirty, bordering on offensive (too many lesbian jokes!) and freewheeling but he was adept at his brand of humour.
The Carnivale was, on balance, a disappointing mixed bag, but the line up changes regularly so it may be a different story on another night. The atmosphere also suffered due to a small crowd, which is perhaps attributable to the venue’s location. Having to navigate your way through a corporate wasteland in order to end up in wonderland may not be worth it for some.
Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5
Wonderland Carnivale
Docklands, Melbourne
28 March – 20 April
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
www.comedyfestival.com.au
27 March – 21 April
