In 2013, I decided it was time to do a solo live show, so, as my manager says, I could have a 'product' for him to sell. For a long time I had wanted to use some of my family stories, particularly stories about growing up and my relationship with my mum, as part of a live show.
So I started to write Identity Crisis, which I billed as 'how a shy, nerdy guy became Australian TV's "man of a thousand faces"'. The plan was to have the show ready to try out at the Perth Fringeworld Festival in late January 2014 before storming the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March and April that year. I did a one-off trial show in mid-Jan in the town in where I live, Kyneton, for about 20 friends and acquaintances, which went well.
I was more anxious about this sort of show than I might have been playing a character, as I have always done in the past. The material was personal. I found the process of transforming incidents from my life into comedy material much more challenging than I thought it would be... after all, I had entertained dinner party guests for years with these stories, surely it'll be a cinch! Not so. In someone's home, at a dinner party, where everybody's relaxed and comfortable, I've delighted in telling true stories that might otherwise be a bit shocking. It didn't occur to me that people would think I was making things up if I told these same stories on stage...
I wonder whether I made a rookie mistake. The reaction was quite mixed. I think many people thought I was being a tad too personal in the revelations I made about myself and my upbringing. The results seemed possibly a bit uneven as far as the audience was concerned. Kate Herbert in the Herald Sun newspaper gave my show three stars and Alex Paige gave qualified support in Stage Whispers. I realised through this process how specifically crafted a stage persona using one's own voice needs to be. Most comedians spend a long time developing a seemingly organically created version of themselves to present to the audience. I wonder whether that's what I want to do. At least I've tried it.
I still see the development of a version of myself that is comfortable on stage as an important thing to do. It is a challenge, but that's what keeps things interesting. I'm yet to decide whether I'll do another show in the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and if so, what form that might take.
Below are some shots taken by Corey James of the Perth FringeWorld season of Identity Crisis, February 2014.
So I started to write Identity Crisis, which I billed as 'how a shy, nerdy guy became Australian TV's "man of a thousand faces"'. The plan was to have the show ready to try out at the Perth Fringeworld Festival in late January 2014 before storming the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March and April that year. I did a one-off trial show in mid-Jan in the town in where I live, Kyneton, for about 20 friends and acquaintances, which went well.
I was more anxious about this sort of show than I might have been playing a character, as I have always done in the past. The material was personal. I found the process of transforming incidents from my life into comedy material much more challenging than I thought it would be... after all, I had entertained dinner party guests for years with these stories, surely it'll be a cinch! Not so. In someone's home, at a dinner party, where everybody's relaxed and comfortable, I've delighted in telling true stories that might otherwise be a bit shocking. It didn't occur to me that people would think I was making things up if I told these same stories on stage...
I wonder whether I made a rookie mistake. The reaction was quite mixed. I think many people thought I was being a tad too personal in the revelations I made about myself and my upbringing. The results seemed possibly a bit uneven as far as the audience was concerned. Kate Herbert in the Herald Sun newspaper gave my show three stars and Alex Paige gave qualified support in Stage Whispers. I realised through this process how specifically crafted a stage persona using one's own voice needs to be. Most comedians spend a long time developing a seemingly organically created version of themselves to present to the audience. I wonder whether that's what I want to do. At least I've tried it.
I still see the development of a version of myself that is comfortable on stage as an important thing to do. It is a challenge, but that's what keeps things interesting. I'm yet to decide whether I'll do another show in the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and if so, what form that might take.
Below are some shots taken by Corey James of the Perth FringeWorld season of Identity Crisis, February 2014.
