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Review: The Big HOO-HAA!


The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back! One of my favourite times of year. It's just cold enough to bring out the cute scarves and jackets, but not so cold that you refuse to leave the house. The streets are full of happy people, and Melbourne seems a little bit more shiny, reminding us why we love it here.


Unfortunately The Big HOO-HAA! is only on for a limited run this Comedy Festival, with just three shows, each featuring a different genre (horror, musical, sexy). But don't despair! If you can't make it to next Monday's show (the sexy one!), we are lucky enough here in Melbourne to be able to see them perform every Friday night (from April 26 onwards) at The Butterfly Club. However, make sure you get tickets in advance, because they do sell out!

I went along to the musical-themed night, which I was very excited about because I love a musical. It was also very fitting for my week, which has already seen me cry at the series finale of Crazy Ex-girlfriend, and play the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat every day.

Essentially, The Big HOO-HAA! is an improv comedy show, where two teams compete in a number of improv games, battling it out for a big trophy and the glory of being the funniest, fastest thinking team. 

We ended up in the front row, which was a bit intimidating, but turned out to be totally fine! The performers will not pick on you, so don't be worried. You can however call out suggestions at certain points in the show, if you like. It's really fun to see the teams work with something you came up with (they picked one of my ideas, so fun!). 



The Big HOO-HAA! is just such a fun show to watch, and the cast look like they're having a great time too. It will make you want to join an improv group, until you realise that you can't act, or sing, and you get really nervous in front of an audience. Watching the show, you feel as though you are a part of it, as you cheer on the teams and secretly hope for your favourite performers to win the points. The best part is that you never know what's going to happen next, and neither do the people on stage!

Look at all these talented people!

 A high energy show with a highly talented cast, if you need a good laugh and a great night out, go and see The Big HOO-HAA!


The important questions:
How long? 60 minutes
Should I be scared to sit in the front row? No
Is there a bar at the venue? Yes
Will I enjoy this? Yes, especially if you love improv and musical comedy


You can see The Big HOO-HAA! at their final Comedy Festival show next Monday, find tickets here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/the-big-hoo-haa OR at The Butterfly Club every Friday night from April 26, tickets here: https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/the-big-hoo-haa

More Comedy Festival tips:

If driving, book your parking before you go, most of them are only about $10, and there's lots of options, so you're likely to get something close to your venue: https://www.wilsonparking.com.au/book-a-bay You can also earn some Velocity Frequent Flyer points, which is a bonus.

See someone new! It's fun to go and see new comedians, why not take a risk and see someone you've never heard of? They're also usually a lot cheaper than the big names! Why not try something a bit different too, as well as stand-up there's lots of improv and other types of comedy to see. Head to Town Hall and you'll be handed lots of flyers and be able to grab some last minute tickets.

Support Light The Way Home, a program that allows performers in need a safe way home from the festival. Many performers are new and have late shows, and aren't earning heaps of money, so the cost of an Uber or taxi every night can really add up. Light The Way Home is collecting donations, which the Festival is matching up to $10,000. It's a great idea, especially for the more vulnerable members of the comedy community. You can donate here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/light-the-way-home





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