Scottish comedian Craig Hill played a one-night-only gig in Mount Lawley as part of Perth International Comedy Festival’s ‘international’ contingent. However, he is not unfamiliar with Australia, referencing cultural points from male name choices to community radio station 3RRR to AFL matches, showing his keen interest for things Antipodean following his recent East Coast visits. Much of the gig also covered British matters – something that seemed to work for the large contingent of ex-pats and tourists in the theatre.
From a strangely weak false start, boosting his upcoming ‘opening’ song and dance number, Hill was working individuals in the audience for surprisingly intimate interactions given the size of the venue. From a formal stage in a full-scale Art Deco theatre, he not only elicited personal details from a range of people, developing impromptu routines based on their answers, but created an atmosphere in which some well-timed, good-natured heckling occurred between audience members.
The loose structure of the show allowed Hill to give full measure to his ad-libbed responses to audience participation, but also seemed a bit lacking in direction. He fell back repeatedly on his keen ear for accents, and anecdotes about audience members from past shows. Again, there were many British and East Coast references thrown in, all of which went down well with the crowd.
Anecdotes and musings were interspersed with snippets of song, always with a comic sting in the tale, whether musically or lyrically. Further enjoyment lay in Hill’s energetically joyous dance routines – the moves were wonderful and his good humour infectious. The trademark leather kilt was swung to good effect, and used again to good effect while he delighted in flirting with squirming straight men in the front row.
A great line in gay innuendo and a steady flow of patter, comfortable rapport with a large and diverse audience, wicked sense of comic timing and strong dance moves – there’s not much not to like, but it did feel like ‘just another show’ for the talented Mr Hill, a pub night writ large. While it was enjoyable, the festival crowd perhaps deserved a little more pulling out of stops, and Hill could have gone even further to find the limits of even such a supportive group.
A welcome contribution to a varied festival, Jock Strap hit all the right notes for the appreciative audience.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Craig Hill – Jock’s Trap
Astor Theatre, Mount Lawley
4 May
Perth International Comedy Festival 2013
www.perthcomedyfest.com.au
1 – 19 May
