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Review: Demi Lardner - Ditch Witch 800


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.



Demi Lardner has fast become one of my favourite comedians. I first saw her on the Gala in 2017 and was like, this is weird and I love it, I need to see more. I went to her show at the Festival last year and instantly decided that she is on my list for comedians I have to see every year.

Usually you head into a show not knowing what the comedian will talk about, but with Demi you go in not knowing what the hell is going to happen. Is Demi going to come out on stage, or will it be one of her bizarre and hilarious characters? Will there be costumes? Will she sing? Will there be random video segments? Expect the unexpected. Anything could happen, and that element of surprise is part of the magic of Demi's show.

That isn't to say that she's random for the sake of being random. Anyone could go up on stage and fuck around doing things out of the blue, but that doesn't denote talent. Demi is naturally hilarious, making the audience laugh even when she has technical difficulties, as if it were just a part of the show. 

Demi's show was a joy to witness, it was pure hilarity, and my husband and I kept thinking about the jokes and laughing, long after we'd left the theatre.
If you go to see Ditch Witch 800, your face will hurt from laughing, and you will leave knowing that you've experienced true comedy, in its rawest, purest form. 

You can also catch Demi at her other Festival show, We Mustn't, which she does with Tom Walker. If you need more of Demi and Tom, they also have a podcast called bigsofttitty.png.


The important questions:
How long? 50 minutes
Should I be scared to sit in the front row? Well, honestly, nowhere is safe
Is there a bar at the venue? Yes
Will I enjoy this? Yes, if you love off-beat humour, where you don't know what's going to happen next
Tip: Bring some cash to get a souvenir after the show!


You can see Demi at the Greek Centre until April 21, get tickets here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/demi-lardner

Demi is also doing another show at the Festival, with Tom Walker, get tickets here: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/we-mustn-t

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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