Melbourne Comic Jeremy Dooley brings his debut show Daddy Cool to Richmond for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
In an attic on Bridge Road, an intimate crowd gathers for Dooley’s stand up show. The lights are dim and the atmosphere is relaxed for this evening’s show.
Warming up the crowd is Canadian Richard Meneses who cracks jokes about being a backpacker, having left Canada to find himself. It’s a funny set that packs in a lot of laughs in a short time. Having cut his teeth on the Open Mic circuit Richard delivers a great set and performance that is memorable.
Lightly jogging onto the stage is the main act Jeremy Dooley, whose jokes are relatable and delivered perfectly with each punchline landing. He invites the audience to participate, which creates some very funny moments and makes for some great banter.
Being that this is a debut show, one could be mistaken for thinking Dooley has done the act before. He is comfortable being on stage, laughter comes easily, and he’s relaxed.
Dooley presents an hour of great storytelling, with some laugh-out-loud moments that captivate the audience. As the show winds up, Dooley has given the audience a solid hour of laughter and endearing moments that make for a fantastic show.
If you turn the corner in Malvern’s Central Park in the late morning, you’re greeted by winding ropes cordoning off islands to seat picnic blankets or chairs. You’ll also see set pieces straight from a primary school play: a tiny wooden island and cajón drum, green and brown paint-spattered cloths tied to trees, and details like fake rocks and a shelf of plastic food with the sign SHERIFFS PANTRY.
The team behind Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s Robin Hood uses this sequestered woody space to its fullest to craft a whimsical, ramshackle and original take on a classic story.
Robin (Billy Thomas), Dame Tuck (Jackson Cross) and Little Joan (Lucy May Knight) are going about their usual business of robbing the rich to feed the poor. But when they are caught stealing from the Sheriff of Nottingham (Kaia Reyes), he devises a new punishment: shipping them off to Australia.
There, the merry men, with the help of Bushranger Bruce (Daniel Hillman), must acclimatize to a strange new world and find their way back home. The beginning feels slow and the different scenes are somewhat disconnected and potentially difficult for a child audience to follow, but it was a pleasant surprise to see a slightly different narrative in a panto show.
The ensemble is charming and navigates their stage perfectly. Every line is audible, every slapstick gag is visible and tight, and every spectator gets close-up moments with the characters. Lucy May Knight as Little Joan stands out with a bubbly yet sharp physicality that’s perfect for panto.
The world-building was also fantastic at blending a familiar and fun Aussie context into a classic story. The adorable Australian animal puppets were a highlight, while all the pop culture references and self-referential jokes landed well with the adult audience.
Maxwell Simon’s (Muriel’s Wedding) original score is fun and full of laugh-out-loud lines, but there was only one song where the children were directly encouraged to play along. It felt like the whole show missed out on many opportunities for audience participation, and this led to some clear confusion and lost attention among the kids at some points.
While Robin Hood has its moments of missed potential, it’s definitely a worthwhile and unique experience for the theatre-loving family. It’s a scrappy, feel-good show that keeps the much-loved traditions of panto alive in a timeless yet modern story for an audience of all ages.
Comedy On The Rocks is the perfect way to spend a few hours for an afternoon of laughs, creativity, and cheeky fun. Held at the delightfully chaotic and cosy Motley Bauhaus, this theatrical drinking game combines quick-witted performances, unpredictable plays, and communal cheers to deliver a boozy comedy experience unlike anything else on the Melbourne independent theatre scene.
The Format: Cheers to Surprise The premise is simple but ingenious: six short comedy plays, each crafted by talented performers. Every play features three designated “Cheers!” moments that keep the audience on their toes: an action (like an actor jumping), a prop appearance (say, a trusty fry pan), and a line of dialogue (like “Speak of the devil!”). The result? Every time these cues appear, the audience raises their drinks, whoops and sips. It’s participatory theatre at its most playful.
What makes Comedy On The Rocks particularly special is its spontaneity. With a rotating cast and new material for each show, all performances are different. You genuinely don’t know what’s coming next – which, let’s be honest, is half the fun.
The Show: Inventive, Funny, and Just a Bit Tipsy The short plays showcased a variety of comedic styles, from quick banter to absurd gags, proving the creativity of Melbourne’s emerging theatre scene. While the sketches varied in tone and execution, the overall vibe was fresh, inventive, and energetic. Of particular note were the performances by the show’s organisers and hosts, Cat and Caz, whose impeccable comic timing and natural chemistry made their sketch one of the day’s highlights.
The tight runtime – about two hours, including a 20-minute interval – is perfect for keeping the energy high and the drinks flowing without overdoing it. Whether you’re a casual theatre-goer or a comedy lover, the unpredictability ensures something for everyone.
The Venue: Motley Bauhaus – Tight but Delightful The Motley Bauhaus adds its own charm to the experience. Sure, the theatre seating can feel a little snug, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. The bar buzzes with pre-show excitement, and the live jazz band playing outside post-performance adds a delightful bonus, creating an authentic festival vibe.
For those who enjoy supporting local and independent talent, Comedy On The Rocks feels like a celebration of the best Melbourne has to offer: creativity, camaraderie, and a generous side of fun.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss It The final show on 15th December promises another lineup of fresh, unpredictable sketches. If Cat and Caz have anything to do with it, you’re guaranteed a good time. Grab your mates, grab a drink, and get ready to cheer your way through a fast, funny, and delightfully silly afternoon of theatre.
In short, Comedy On The Rocks is fun. It’s creative, surprising, and refreshingly unpretentious. Whether you’re a sketch comedy or theatre fan or simply looking for a boozy afternoon out, this show delivers in spades. Cheers to that!
Details: What: Comedy On The Rocks – A Theatre Drinking Game Where: Motley Bauhaus When: Final show on 15th December Drinks: From 3PM Performances: 3:30PM–5:30PM (20-min interval) Tickets: Includes a mystery prize raffle!
Take your chance to sip, shout, and laugh one last time.
Photographer:- Ian Thrussel
To book tickets to Comedy On The Rocks, please visit The Motley Bauhaus.
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
Ever wonder how Peter Pan came to be in Neverland? Or how he got his name? Or the exact means by which Captain Hook ‘acquired’ (or perhaps I should more accurately say, ‘required’) his hook? Well, wonder no more, as ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ gives us the prequel to Peter Pan that we never knew we needed to cover all of these questions and more.
Winner of 5 Tony awards, and written by Rick Elise, Peter and the Starcatcher is a feast for all the senses, and a production the whole family can enjoy.
Although the play is a prequel to Peter Pan, you really don’t even have to know anything about Peter Pan (but I think everyone knows the story, whether they want to admit it or not!) to enjoy this production as a stand-alone story. But of course, knowing the story and characters of Peter Pan will make the show much more enjoyable; you’ll simply get so much more out of the very clever writing and humour.
The story begins out at sea, and you’ll be forgiven for taking a bit of time to get up to speed with the characters and story, as you are thrown right into the depths of this fast-paced production from the start. But once you orient yourself with the different characters and how they relate to the well-loved classic, Peter Pan, you can sit back and enjoy the ride.
And what a ride it is! The show is a feast for the senses with beautifully crafted sets, costumes, music, and stunning puppets. There is dancing, singing, live musicians on stage, and oh, the humour and comedy!
The show is marketed for all ages, including kids 8 years and older. But I would question how much the younger kids would actually understand. It is a fast-paced show, especially in the dialogue, which is extremely well written. Almost every line seems to have some sort of joke, pun, or reference linked to it, and with the fast pace of it all, I am sure I missed some of them. So although the kids may not understand it all, there is still so much they can enjoy visually and musically from this production.
Having live music played on stage was lovely, and weaving the musicians in and out of the scenes on the rolling pianos and stages was a nice touch.
The puppets were a beautiful addition to the play, really adding a lovely magical feel. And the actors did a great job in the puppetry on stage, brining to life a variety of animals.
The different sets, lighting, and costumes were a visual smorgasbord and feast for the eyes. Talk about some impressive costumes (keep an eye out for the mermaids!).
The cast were a joy to watch together, with some very strong performances shining though.
Olivia Deeble commanded the stage and really showcased her amazing talents in acting, singing, and dancing. She really is brilliant as the leading young lady, Molly: the character who we learn turns out to be the mother of Wendy in the Peter Pan we are familiar with.
Colin Lane was another standout performance and brilliantly cast as the hilarious ‘Black Stache’, the pirate captain who we know as Captain Hook. Lane stole the show with his witty humour; at times clearly off-book with some jokes, but never allowing it to be out of line with the show or his character.
If you are looking for a show that brings you a lot of joy, magic, and laughter, Peter and the Starcatcher is just what you need. A great production to bring the whole family along to enjoy.
Peter And The Starcatcher is playing now until the 1st December.
