Review by Lucy Ross
The Sydney Comedy Festival is back for 2021! Which comes with the treasured annual event, Frocking Hilarious – an evening that brings together some hilarious female comics to celebrate and raise money for global women’s rights.
Frocking Hilarious is an all-female comedy gala, spearheaded by comedy veteran Judith Lucy, that supports the charity ActionAid.
If you have not heard of ActionAid before, they partner with local women’s organisations all over the world to give communities what they need to support women’s rights. From empowering women with the tools to campaign for safer cities, or building women’s capacity to respond to climate disasters – their programs support women living in poverty and exclusion and their communities.
What a fantastic cause to support, while enjoying some killer comedy from some fierce females!
Claire Hooper was the MC for the evening, who took charge of this role with a cheeky charm and pivoted well with the many heckles and unprepared moments that came her way. And during her sets offered us some hilarious insights into her world during the lockdowns that we can all relate to. They may have made us cry last year, but thanks to Hooper – we can all laugh now.
On the bill were ten fabulous women of comedy all with such diverse styles and different walks of life, it is difficult ascertain a standout performance.
They all stood out individually in their own excellence.
Immediately we were brought down to Earth by opener Bev Killick, a loveable rough diamond who broke down the trend of “yummy mummies” with a delightful bogan flair.
Then Bec Charlwood educated everyone on the joys of working at IKEA, and used this to cleverly comment on a heterosexual couple’s dynamic.
Cassie Workman set contained compelling and important messages about life as a trans woman, delivered in such an endearing and intelligent way you could not help but love her.
We were then educated on the Townsville floods and the origin of mermaids by Danielle Walker, whose dark and twisted humour had you giggling at stories you never thought you would. The first half closed with Chris Ryan, who gave us a real and raw perspective on her life and gave us permission laugh at how ridiculously insecure we can all be.
After intermission, we came back to the show with the joy that is Demi Lardner. She is a lady that has you laughing before you even know how or why, and has an enrapturing energy on stage.
Followed by Nina Oyama who made light of being bisexual and half Asian in today’s society, and then Floyd Alexander-Hunt who introduced us to getting over your ex with classical music. Rebecca de Unamuno was then introduced as “the best improviser in Australia” and certainly did not disappoint as she interviewed a couple (who were also both called Rebecca), and based on their answers seamlessly constructed a hilarious and poignant Shakespeare skit.
The show closed with ingenious Judith Lucy, delivering an insightful set on the joys of getting older with her usual dry and wise wit, while also delighting us with some creative audience banter.
The evening was an overwhelming success, with the audience helping to raise over $15,000 to ActionAid, motivated by the great cause and also the prospect of beating Brisbane’s total. A fantastic opportunity to support female comedians and the work of ActionAid with one foul swoop!
Head to actionaid.org.au to donate and find out more.
Image Supplied