Brain Dump

After a filmed start of two 1930s style Chorines, on film, imploring us to turn our mobiles off and don’t take pictures, he hits the stage, set with huge light bulbs, like a whirling dervish. Actually he strolls on casually, but he generates so much electricity that he gives the impression of whirling - or maybe that’s our brains once he starts speaking. “He” is, of course, the world’s best randomist – the Terror of Tyneside, Ross Noble. I’ve seen him live three times over a ten year spread, and remember that the first time, in a tiny theatre in Perth, I became quite ill from laughing…and the entire audience, from Grannies to kids, was in hysterics.

This time it was at the Frankston Arts Centre on a day that was blowing a hurricane style gale. Noble was in fine form, improving on such things as flying cows with sprays of milk like helicopter rotors; dogs on leashes as kites; uncontrollable cars; hair blowing off, or blowing over Trump style. Several “victims” in the audience enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame. Noble has slowed down his delivery somewhat because Geordie can be a difficult accent to understand (I spent my high school years there), and that helps the audience to assimilate his thought processes. Noble is so funny, so off the wall and so random that often the best lines get lost. A young woman behind me who clearly didn’t get him at all asked her companion “What language is he speaking?” Her companion told her, “I think he’s Irish.” I felt like turning round and saying “Haddaway hinny, ya divven na nowt. That gadgie’s gannin micey.”

Extemporising on a toy sheep, a block of Noble Choice Choccy and, in particular the name of the venue (you can imagine how the acronym FAC was interpreted), Noble let us off for a pee break after an hour of belly laughs.

The second hour was more structured, with a long piece on his Vasectomy, sexual fantasies with a Dolphin, balls in general. But when he jammed on the theme of obnoxious kids, and the political incorrectness of sticking them in a baby swing and punching them in the face every time they swung down, he lost some of the audience, though it was clearly a gag and antidote to political correctness. He’s brilliant and brave, especially when he’s bucking trends.

Ross Noble is a gem, and a gift to comedy. Yes, he may well be slightly micey (mad or mental) but in a world which is currently filled with lunatics in high places, he’s a breath of fresh air. And we NEED more laughter. He’s at Her Majesty’s on Thursday and Friday (what will he make of “Good Friday” I wonder) as part of the  MICF and then tours extensively. (The dates are below). One of the must sees of the not just the MICF, but anytime you need reminding of the absurdities of life.

Coral Drouyn

TOUR DATES

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, MELBOURNE


Thursday 24th & Friday 25th March

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE, HAMER HALL


Sunday 27th & Monday 28th March

WREST POINT ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, HOBART Wednesday 30th March

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, BALLARAT


Friday 1st April

EASTBANK CENTRE, SHEPPARTON

Saturday 2nd April

HORSHAM TOWN HALL

Sunday 3rd April

ORANGE CIVIC THEATRE

Tuesday 5th April Bookings

RIVERSIDE THEATRE, PARRAMATTA

Thursday 7th April

BATHURST ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Friday 8th April

DUBBO REGIONAL THEATRE

Saturday 9th April

LOGAN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Monday 11th April

TWELFTH NIGHT THEATRE, BRISBANE

Tuesday 12th – Saturday 16th April

Black logo on white background

THE ARTS CENTRE, GOLD COAST

Sunday 17th April

CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

Wednesday 20th April

CANBERRA THEATRE

Thursday 21st April

ANITA’S THEATRE, THIRROUL

Friday 22nd April

SYDNEY TOWN HALL

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th April