Damien Power is one of the most gifted, creative, imaginative stand-ups of his generation. Hands down.
In just a few years, he’s risen from a promising upstart to a thought-provoking, accomplished comedian that Brisbane should be proud of. His socio-political commentary explores his place in the universe in a thoughtful and hilarious way.
His observations steer away from the obvious, taking us to unexpected places, whether it’s Reclaim Australia members becoming refugees in space or the self-created deity we call our own Facebook profile.
He has a conversational style that comes across as effortlessly spontaneous, yet it’s clear that this material has been painstakingly crafted. His material is both thought provoking and absurd, not holding to a strong theme, but flowing in a way that captivates and leaves you surprised when the 60 minutes are over.
At times dead-pan, at times shouting to the point he breaks into a coughing fit, his descriptive tongue colours his descriptions in a way that draws you effortlessly into his world.
A brief cola spillage in the front row created an unexpected break in the flow, but Damien’s handling of the situation just made the entire situation funnier than it had any right to be. Despite happening near the punchline of a long build, he managed to incorporate it into the narrative so seamlessly you would almost suspect the spiller to have been a plant.
As with any comedy show, the only thing that really matters is whether or not it was funny. It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed that hard despite being familiar with some of the material from Damien’s frequent impromptu sets around Brisbane.
His self-awareness is what gives him control over his audience, knowing when to suddenly turn the joke around on them and question what it was that they were laughing at.
At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Damien becomes a household name nationwide, perhaps further. The transition is already in progress.
If you live in Brisbane and have never seen him perform, do yourself a favour and check him out while you still can.
Damien Power's 'Sell Mum Into Slavery' plays at the Brisbane Powerhouse until Sunday 6 March.
