By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE— The 12th Melbourne International Comedy Festival, beginning April 1, features a mind-boggling array of events. From well-known international celebrities such as Julian Cleary and Sean Hughes, and popular Australian acts like Anthony Morgan and Judith Lucy, to the young unknown comedians appearing in Triple J's Raw Comedy contest, there's something for everyone.
Flicking through the festival program can be an overwhelming experience, but a careful reader can discover events for those who like their comedy progressive, political or challenging.
Upfront, a night of comedy from funny women from around Australia and abroad, returns for its fourth innings. Billed this year as "the original Girl Power", Upfront will feature Lynda Gibson, Sue-Ann Post, Denise Scott, the Fabulous Singlettes and many more. Jenny Eclair, the first woman to win Britain's coveted Perrier Award, brings her brash and bawdy stand-up routine to Australia for the first time, and Meshel Laurie brings us Virgin Mary II - This Time it's Personal.
Other events include: Alan Glover on the funny side of environmental activism in Jolly. Green. Defiant.; Rod Quantock's latest look at the state (in both senses of the word) of Victoria in Crown of Thorns; Comedy, Death and Lenny Bruce, which looks at the life and battles of the controversial comedian; and the third series of The Kennett Lectures, in which four well-known comedians will pay tribute to someone who may not have given Victorians much cause for laughter, but has at least provided comedians with a lot of material.
Apart from stand-up comedy, theatre and cabaret, the festival will also feature several art exhibitions. These include Bringing the House Down, political cartoons of the last 12 months by such well-known artists as Peter Nicholson, Ron Tandberg, Heinrich Hinze, Jenny Coopes and Cathy Wilcox; and Women who Run with Humour, featuring work by Kaz Cooke and other Australian feminist cartoonists.
The festival also includes the Fourth Annual Cafe Provincial Comedy Film Festival, an outdoor program of short films; a screening of The Big Lebowski, the latest from the Coen brothers of Fargo fame; and Welcome to Woop Woop, Stephan Elliot's long-awaited follow-up to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. And, guaranteed to raise a smile on many Victorians' faces, a number of festival events are free, or give generous concessions.
The Comedy Festival runs until April 26. For programs, daily information updates and jokes, telephone 0055 66334.