Literally

What do a nonagenarian ex-spy who has dealings with the Whitlam Government, a rebellious school captain and a self-made billionaire slash con artist have in common? Not much, probably. Yet these are some of the characters you will meet and laugh with as part of Clare Cavanagh’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival show Literally.

Tonight, we’re viewing the show from the intimate setting of The Nicholas Building, where the space has been transformed into a high school auditorium with members of the audience asked to sit according to their year level. Once I’ve regressed to my angsty Year 9 self, school captain Meredith Kimberly Dickson addresses the cohort and renounces her captaincy. Meredith’s self-blame soon transitions into a menacing mix of self-grandiosity and ruthlessness as she calls for a revolution.

Hilarity ensues when, thinking about the welfare of others, she enlists a police officer to talk about the “rule of law” – dragging an audience member on stage who sledged Cate Blanchett, no less – and an overzealous, self-appointed fire warden who walks us through the T-O-W-E-R-I-N-G I-N-F-E-R-N-O acronym for fire safety.

In her debut show, Cavanagh proved to be entertaining throughout. While some of the character transitions were quite clever (especially the transition into singing Happy Birthday), part of the show felt disjointed and some of the character sketches seemed to overstay their welcome, falling a little flat.

Some of Cavanagh’s best work was when she embraced the high school storyline. The characters felt richer and more nuanced, and renditions of Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Where is the Love?’, the house party scene and questionable dance moves provided the most laughs.

On stage till Sunday, 21 April, Literally literally is a fun ride from beginning to end.

Literally
Till Sunday, 21 April 2019, 7.45pm
TIC Swanston (The Nicholas Building), Room 502, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/clare-cavanagh-literally