Brisbane Powerhouse erupted in laughter as Ross Noble returned to the stage for the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival.
Interwoven jokes from crowd work and never-ending tangents created a ball of simply delightful nonsense.
New audience members exited the theatre discussing how they cannot believe the belly-aching show was all unscripted improv; which is largely true. Each show is a vastly different spew of waffle with action movie and old rock and roll references, and an impressive showcase of miming.
I’ve personally seen Ross four times and watched all his old content on Youtube over and over again. I have heard his formula to death at this point. I can confidently say there are certain tried and true beats he will commonly hit. However; due to its nature, each show is so different and fresh, I just never tire of it.
This night’s particular crowd was quite stiff compared to the regional country towns Ross has toured in. At first, they were not sure how to respond to Ross’s quirks. Ross would acknowledge this, making the crowd self-aware of its stiffness, and tensions lifted. By halfway, Ross had won the entire theatre over with large bouts of laughter. I was really impressed with how Ross quickly responded to the ebb and flow. This level of crowd control could have only been performed by a seasoned professional.
Ross’s stream of consciousness as show material never ceases to make me laugh. It captured my full attention for the whole show. I thoroughly enjoyed my fourth viewing and am excited for the fifth when the time comes. If you are one for improvisational comedy or general absurdity, I highly recommend Ross at your earliest opportunity.
