Review – DeAnne Smith: Let’s Do This (CAN)

The Canadian androgynous pocket rocket known as DeAnne Smith has crashed through the doors of this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and she’s packing a powder keg of power ballads and punch lines.

It might be Smith’s clean cut appearance, her sweet smile, her polite manners or her soft ukulele strumming that lure you into the impression you’re in the company of a gentle and demure creature. You’re not. You will break from her gaze before she does. This chick has more edge than a cliff face.

Smith’s comedy demonstrates insight as she explores confidence and insecurity both as symptoms of self-absorption. She joyfully critiques an urban youth chronically committed to proving they’re having more fun than you. The show starts to get meta when you’re inculcated in a plot to fake a scene to fuel social media‘s rapacious appetite. Is this parody or reality?

Smith perforates your gender-based assumptions as she delves into the conflict between being a feminist and a lesbian. With wit and innuendo in equal measure, DeAnne delivers sexual objectification in a delightful and unexpected manner. It’s glorious to see this master at work.

Smith is here to ‘Do This’; she’ll give you all she’s got and expect you to do the same, so get on board and this will be a comedy festival show you’ll not forget.