Arts tart

The Adelaide Festival and Fringe have wrapped, which is just as well — between them and the heatwave I’ve got nothing left.

It was a little tough to get babysitting organised for everything we’d have liked to see. In the end, we wound up seeing mostly comedy events, interspersed with exhibits and installations. The last two days we squeezed in two performances each night, and I thoroughly enjoyed Daniel Kitson, who was more funny  monologist than comedian, and David O’Doherty, who had that really good blend of insight, IQ and class.

I’ve never reviewed a comedy show before, and I think I probably won’t start now (”…observant, sharp, funny! Look out Steve Carell!”—The East Outback Rag) but it was a very smart, funny set. (And where would he have been without negativity, may I ask?) The audience may owe him an apology, however: after a brilliant segment about childhood nightmares and the adult inability to get up in the middle of the night to investigate noises which demand investigation, we neglected to offer some extra applause beyond a bit of polite ‘nice golf shot’ hand-patting. I was too busy weeping with laughter to applaud, actually. (I think he forgave us—we got a half hour encore.)

Anyway, I think the Melbourne Comedy Festival is up next, so if he’s on the bill and comedy’s your thing, give it a go.

I have tomorrow set aside for visiting the major arts exhibitions of the festival before they close — and thank god it should be cooler by then. Still have to get in to visit those Rentmeister fridges…