By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE — The 11th Melbourne International Comedy Festival, running March 27-April 20, was recently attacked by right-wing radio commentator Neil Mitchell as being of interest only to "wankers living in Northcote and Fitzroy." Mitchell's comments were perhaps sparked by previous festivals' long tradition of progressive comedy.
91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ asked festival director Susan Provan if the debate around "free speech" sparked by Pauline Hanson has had an effect on comedy. Has there been a move back to openly racist and sexist "humour"?
"The main impact is that it's given comedians something else to joke about", Provan says. She agrees that there has been a recent trend toward "New Lad" humour, one of the leading exponents of which is Channel Nine's Footy Show. (English comedian Frank Skinner, a festival guest, is also apparently a bit of a New Lad.)
However, she says, "Good comedians know the difference between destructive humour, which is racist and sexist, and constructive humour, which can take the piss out of people's foibles and attitudes without putting those people down. There's general agreement that racism and sexism aren't funny."
The festival features a large number of international guests, a number of whom are from non-Anglo backgrounds. Australia's Hung Le, Franklyn Ajaye from the US, and Mike King and Raybon Kan, New Zealanders of Maori and Chinese descent respectively, all use their experiences to make sharp observations on racism and society.
Despite the "blokey" nature of many festival shows, women comedians are well represented. Upfront returns — a night of women's comedy described as "new jokes, still no blokes".
According to Provan, there has been no criticism of a women-only line-up. "It's generally recognised that women have a harder time in comedy — it can be tough getting up on stage as the only woman in a line-up of blokes — and Upfront provides a safe environment for women comedians."
This year features well-known comics such as Sue-Anne Post, Lynda Gibson and Denise Scott as well as new talent.
The festival gains an additional venue in the Victorian Trades Hall, which will be converted into four venues and a festival bar. This project is supporting the Trades Hall Restoration Fund. Appropriately, Trades Hall will be the venue for The Kennett Lectures, compered by Jeff (aka Simon Hill) and featuring "fiery debate, cogent criticism and gross misinformation" from Brian Dawe, Wendy Harmer and other guests.
Add new shows by festival favourites such as Anthony Morgan, Greg Fleet and Rod Quantock, and the return of previous overseas guests such as Steven Wright, the Jim Rose Circus and the Three Canadians, and you have a line-up guaranteed to amuse anyone (except, perhaps, Hanson, Howard and Kennett). For more info on the Comedy Festival, ring 9417 7711 or the Festival Hotline on 0055 663 344.