Melbourne International Comedy Festival review by Steve Bennett

Simon Godfrey has clearly been watching the Pajama Men or Max & Ivan, as his solo debut is a similarly fast-paced, multi-character epic adventure that shows off his impressive talents in comic acting. Especially as he is only one man taking on these many parts.

The Earth Is Flat is a silly piece of nonsense about a mediaeval cardinal who, after a run-in with a Pope with supernatural powers, is turned into stone, only to emerge again in 2014 when he has a diabolical plan to destroy the planet. Who will stop him? Could it be Melbourne Museum’s mild-mannered janitor? Could be... especially if he enlists the help of his impressionable young nephew and a genetically modified ‘Centripetal Horse’.

In honesty, it’s hard to invest in a plot so preposterously stupid. Godfrey is clearly aiming for absurdity, but the narrative feels like it’s been improvised by a child with a hyperactive imagination – but at least it hurtles forward at a breakneck pace.

The story is also regaled with no small measure of charm, and the instant characterisations that Godfrey – also half of the This Is Siberian Husky duo –  pulls off are entertainingly larger-than-life. Each creation is brought to life with a quick change of voice or physicality that maintains the frantic speed.

The patter’s just as pacy, and there are some good jokes in the mix, plus some truly awful ones, too. He doesn’t much discriminate between them. The result is a cheesy sort of fun, in which you can enjoy the ride even while knowing it’s all stuff and nonsense.

Review date: 15 Apr 2014
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett