Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

For almost 20 years, Heath Franklin has hidden behind the distinctive and luxuriant moustache of Chopper, his exaggerated version of the now-dead violent criminal Chopper Read, to great success.

Making a fresh start as himself, he’s less of a draw, performing in a venue that isn’t normally even a room but has instead been created from a hotel mezzanine with some partition boards. He’s definitely a better comic than the space suggests.

Franklin hasn’t entirely abandoned the hardcore sensibilities of his former alter-ego – with some of the routines effectively urging the snowflake generation to harden up – but this is a more conversational hour, full of anecdotes about his family life and beyond.

He’s an assured presence with an affable banter with the audience, entirely free of Chopper-style menace, and the sort of relaxed confidence that makes you feel in safe hands, even in a space that lacks any intrinsic atmosphere. And given his background, it’s no surprise that he’s handy with the act-out, breathing life into his anecdotes.

Out Of Character is a rag-tag bundle of stories about the likes of school assemblies, his affectionate dog or road-rage incidents caused by what he describes as his near-constant state of anger. Not that there’s much evidence of such rancour here – the most Furious he gets is at the annoying vocal style of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis.

Rather, he’s a bit of a good-natured grouch, opinionated about irritants like the low bar set by fathers wanting to be a ‘fun dad’, one of his most incisive routines. It’s a bit of a hit-and-miss show, however, and some routines are definitely stronger than others.

His easy matter is forgiving of lulls, but the lack of purpose less so, since weaker segments are not in the service of a bigger picture. Plus an extended club set like this is always harder to stand out as a festival must-see, however funny individual segments may be.

• Heath Franklin: Out Of Character is on at the Victoria Hotel at 7.50pm (6.50pm Sundays, no show Mondays) until April 23.

Review date: 11 Apr 2023
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival