Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

This Damien Powers gig has a disconcerting energy, and it’s largely the comedian’s fault. He repeatedly dips into the audience to comment on how they are reacting – often too defensively – which acts as a considerable brake on the momentum he wants to build up.

As an experienced comic, he even knows he’s doing it, explaining that he’s less used to attentive Melbourne audiences than uninterested crowds in rowdy pubs. But this is his seventh solo comedy festival show, so he ought to have got the hang of it by now.

This wide-ranging hour is based on Powers’ reflections on the sort of world in which his son is growing up. At 40, you might think the comic is a bit young to be buying into the narrative that the young generation are all snowflakes who need toughing up, but that’s its essence. 

When he finally finds his rhythm, Powers has an astute take on the topic, memorably describing Gen Z as ‘hyper-sexual environmentalists’ who take up activism to boost their social media profiles amid this ‘epidemic of narcissism’.

He is sharply withering on airy-fairy wellness fads, sexologists, and his ex’s flagrant liar of a new husband. There’s a well of frustration and bitterness here, which he draws upon skilfully, and he’s a commanding performer.

But after a strong middle comes a weird, muddled end, as he launches into a surreal fantasy about his dad and a band of comedy magicians who humiliated him. This is supposed to explain the sparkly microphone he uses all show but only serves to detract from the caustic real-world humour that’s at the heart of the hour.

There’s a great show hiding in here about our fast-changing culture, but it’s weakened by an unfocussed performance and needlessly abstract material around its edges.

• Damien Power: Love Thy Neighbour? No Thanks is on at Melbourne Town Hall at 8pm on April 20 to 23 and 8pm on the 24th.

Review date: 19 Apr 2022
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival