Bursting onto the stage with joyful exuberance, Michele da Costa sets the tone for a fun, upbeat hour of comedy right from the get-go.
This is a debut show perfect for the girls night out crowd, any day of the week; there’s the Madonna hook, astrology galore and a few cheeky serial killer references, it’s everything your Netflix algorithm assumes you’re into – but with a sprinkle of something extra in the form of gleeful host, Michele.
As you’d expect, with any debut solo show, there are kinks to be ironed out; it’s not a laugh a minute performance, but as soon as you warm yourself in Michele’s energetic glow, you will find yourself grinning for the full performance. 'Like A Virgo' is billed as being a stand-up comedy/burlesque hybrid and while there are a couple of moves – and very well-choreographed and tightly performed ones at that – thrown into the mix, the show is predominantly stand-up in the most traditional sense. That being said, without a doubt, Michele has fabulous dance skills to briefly display, and her comedic timing adapts incredibly well to movement and physicality.
This is a show that makes you feel like you’re having a night out with one of your funniest gal pals; the one who always has a story for every situation and isn’t afraid to reveal all, even if it doesn’t always paint them in the most flattering light – and because of that, you love them all the more for it. Michele has a great ability to make the crowd feel comfortable and at ease, with time and practise it will be great to see her grow and have the resilience to push through with more power when jokes don’t land every time, as it did take her a bit of time to get back into the groove when this situation arose.
'Like A Virgo' is a fun and fairly low-risk hour of jokes, best paired with a glass of bubbly. Come dressed in your best rah-rah skirt, crimp your hair in advance and lubricate yourself well to get the most out of this upbeat up-and-coming stand-up.
'Like A Virgo' is on at The Motley Bauhaus (Melbourne Fringe) until 23 October.
