Aunty Donna 'New Show' Review

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Tue 08 Mar 2016 - Sun 13 Mar 2016

It's one of those humid Brisbane evenings where you can feel a storm is brewing outside because you break into a sweat just sitting still when an effervescent crowd that appears to be about 95% university students pours into the Turbine Studio at Brisbane Powerhouse for a sold out opening night of [i]Aunty Donna 'New Show'[/i]. 'The next big thing in comedy' gets bandied about a lot, but the buzz on the streets (AKA gossip in the comedy community) would indicate that in the case of Aunty Donna, it's actually warranted. There aren't many acts who can say they've sold out their Brisbane debut show without the help of a massive publicity push in the weeks prior.

The room is muggier than a New York summer and the plastic school seating is tight so you're forced to press thighs with your neighbours. The girl on one side of me texts her friends excitedly (she could only get one ticket and tells me, "I had to come without my friends. These guys are so great. I couldn't miss this for the world.") The young man to my right redefines manspreading, but soon realises a jam packed house is no place to put blatant crotch display over comfort.



The lights go down and TV static sound effects are interspersed with sound grabs that the fans in the audience clearly understand as Aunty Donna in-jokes. They whoop and holler in recognition and anticipation, when a back lit Broden Kelly bursts onto stage to a bombastic backing track, quickly followed by his cohorts Mark Samual Bonanno and Zachary Ruane, who emerge from the theatre itself to make their ways to the stage.

The group's energy and enthusiasm is infectious, as they launch headfirst into a set that's super tight, ridiculously well rehearsed, packed with tricky sound and lighting cues, and their unique brand of surreal and absurd comedy.

[i][b]Here's a five minute edit of my chat with Aunty Donna. Pop over to Talking Funny to see the full, uncut and uncensored interview.[/i][/b]



Only four years ago the group emerged on the Melbourne comedy scene, their debut show receiving a nomination for Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Golden Gibbo Award. Their YouTube channel has over ninety thousand subscribers, and their bio reveals, they've 'made a pilot for ABC and Screen Australia as part of the Fresh Blood Comedy Initiative, created the original web series 1999 exclusively for YouTube thanks to Screen Australia and Google's Skip Ahead funding (releasing 2016), and are currently developing an exclusive series for Comedy Central Australia's Not For TV'.

The first sketch is a faux ad for Australian tourism, a massive poke at our slang and tourist attractions, scripted with what I recognise as a clear love of language. The group have definitely got theatrical experience, as lighting and sound are well designed and the stagecraft is flawless. They even handle a few little technical glitches with elan.

Aunty Donna don't just act out their fun filled sketches, they also sing, dance, rap, mime and conduct some of the best audience interaction I've seen. There's a joyful, childlike sense of play and fun applied to a performance that touches on serious issues and ventures into adult language and concepts like atheism, what it means to be Australian, and adultery.

They lampoon laughter types and Brisbane lock out laws, they use Brechtian techniques to break down the fourth wall, and juxtapose upbeat pop tunes with dark mimes, but Aunty Donna also aren't above good old fashioned fart jokes ("You have a poopy bum bum") and utter silliness. I enjoy all of it wholeheartedly.



Some highlights in the show are Pausey Pete the game show host, Mr Auctioneer and Lord Whoopie, but honestly, every moment felt like a highlight in this fast paced, laughter packed, vigorous show.

Whatever it takes, you need to see this act. Sell your grandma, pawn your watch, go on your own without your friends if you can only get one ticket, but whatever you do, treat your laughing gear to a great night out at Aunty Donna during the Brisbane Comedy Festival.

#brisbane_city
#comedy
#disabled_friendly
#indoor
#near_brisbane
#new_farm
#theatre
#theatre -reviews
#march
!date 08/03/2016 -- 13/03/2016
%wnbrisbane