Reviews

Lauren J, Roving reporter

Arj Barker: Let Me Do the Talking

April 1 2010, Melbourne Town Hall

Arj Barker performed his stand up comedy show "Let me do the Talking" at the Melbourne Town Hall on April 1 2010 as part of the 2010 Comedy Festival. The hall was completely full and more seats had been brought in to accommodate the 1500 people attending.

The lights dimmed and Arj Barker stepped onto the stage...

It's an awful moment when a comic walks on and makes his first joke. The crowd can either remain silent or burst into a rolling round of applause and laughter.

Luckily for Arj it was the latter. Maybe the crowd was in a more boisterous and cheery mood then normal, with the long weekend lying ahead of them. Or maybe Arj was particularly on form that night. Whatever the reason the crowd laughed and cheered, lapping up anything the comic threw their way.

What’s in a joke?

Arj quipped about the time and effort involved in getting ideas for routines, saying he has to forever "notice things." His knowledge of current issues was apparent, referring to the battle between Google and China over censoring the internet and compiling a rather long set-up to a joke about the supposed Nigerian email scams. Both sent the crowd reeling off into peals of laughter.

At other times he had the audience laughing at the evolution of the snake, joking that snakes must feel jilted by the gods. Having neither arms like a monkey or a handy pouch like a kangaroo it is in fact nothing more then a "long neck with a face."

Worth it?

Arj's comic performance was engaging and fresh and left many with sore stomach muscles and a face strained from laughing.

As to whether I’d recommend seeing Arj Barker next time he performs in Melbourne? I would have to reply with a giggling, side splitting, resounding, yes.

Four out of five.

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