Netflix special reviewed by Steve Bennett

Joel Creasey doesn’t dispel any Aussie myths by opening his Netflix special with a bit about shark attacks. Nor is he challenging any gay stereotypes with his uber-camp delivery and bitchiness… even if he argues bitching is universal, it’s only called that when it’s not a straight man doing the griping.

But above all else, the self-absorbed Creasey proclaims that Thirsty is ‘about me’ – and in particular about the cringe-inducing scrapes he gets into.

This starts simply – but hilariously – enough with the comically bad reasons for failing his driving test. If you think that could happen to anyone, sharing his intimate dick pics with the entire clientele of Office Works came about from a perfect storm of horniness, impatience and the ‘gay foreplay’ of custom-making a greeting card that could surely only happen to him.

Though his stories are often of being embarrassed, he displays no embarrassment in sharing them.  He could be accused of over-sharing, but his frankness is certainly a boon to his comedy.

Mortifying stories of repeatedly disconcerting Kimmy Schmidt star Ellie Kemper might be a little over-egged, but there are plenty more moments of acute awkwardness as he reveals how he stalked his current boyfriend and, separately, an actor in the Broadway version of Book Of Mormon. His dedication to getting his man is almost sociopathic, and the latter story especially concludes in the most hellish date story possible.

‘If any of this is too highbrow for you let me know,’ he trills, fully embracing the frivolity and egocentric nature of his stand-up. Cerebral it isn’t, but sharing in his lowest moments proves a delight for the rest of us.

• Comedians Of The World -  Joel Creasey: Thirsty is out on Netflix now. Watch here

Review date: 3 Jan 2019
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett