He sold every ticket for his show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, and now Troy Hawke (Milo McCabe) brings 'Sigmund Troy'd' to Melbourne.
In 'Sigmund Troy'd', the 1930s throwback, home-schooled investigator Troy Hawke is fresh from finding and proving decisive links between IKEA, the CIA and the Nazis. Now, he's back to battle a new enemy on behalf of people everywhere: his inner saboteur.
Milo is a character comedian with more than ten years' experience in the circuit. He trained to be a psychotherapist initially, but abandoned his studies to pursue the comedy world. His character Troy is educated and sophisticated. . . But also utterly clueless.
We chat to Troy/Milo ahead of his performance at Melbourne International Comedy Festival – about all things 'Sigmund Troy'd', winning audiences over, and his plans outside of the shows.
How would you describe your style of comedy to a Troy newcomer?
I’m not an easy act to describe. 1930s throwback home-schooled suave Scrabble-based investigator. Picture it? Didn’t think so. I have to be honest, I love dealing with a crowd that don’t have a clue what I am for the first minute or so because winning them over as they work it out is an absolute joy. I’ve been performing as Troy long enough now that it’s a fully fleshed out identity, essentially an entirely different persona I can step into. Well, not entirely different if I’m honest. There’s definitely certain exaggerated aspects of my character I let loose with it.
You’ve won some comedy-related accolades in your time in stand-up. What does this kind of recognition and acknowledgement mean to you?
I’ll be honest, as a comic no matter what level I achieve there will always be a fundamental need for validation so these awards mean a lot. I won two Best Show awards at festivals last year with this show and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t put a massive smile on my face.
You’re looking inward for 'Sigmund Troy’d', at your inner saboteur. What can audiences expect in this show?
Prior to becoming a stand-up I trained to be a psychotherapist and this show is me deciding I’m finally good enough as a comic to merge my two worlds. Audiences can expect to not be able to guess what’s coming next, more Scrabble-based comedy than any other show in the world and to laugh their heads off.
What are you most looking forward to about Melbourne International Comedy Festival?
I’ve only ever been to Perth in Australia and I adored that, I loved the vibe and the people. I’m looking forward to inhabiting a major festival I’ve never performed at, meeting performers I’ve never come across and reconnecting with all the excellent Australian acts that make the annual pilgrimage to Edinburgh. I’m also looking forward to getting the measure of a typical Melbourne festival crowd (if one exists) and performing in a brand-new environment.
Do you have any plans while you’re here, outside of the festival?
I’m going to immediately find a boxing gym to train at and look up places my wife and I can take our kids to watch their faces twist in wonder at exotic animals.
The most effective way to make an impression as a comedian is to. . .
I initially misread this as ‘make an impression ON a comedian’ and was about to list the five top things not to say (‘Do you do this for a LIVING? How do you remember it all?’ etc) but AS a comedian. . . I would say for me it changed when I stopped performing material I thought might work in front of a random crowd and instead started doing stuff I would personally laugh at. For me that made what I was doing on stage a lot more unique to me and I think that connects in a vastly better way.
'Sigmund Troy'd' plays The Toff In Town (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) 30 March-23 April.
