Review – Celebrity Theatresports

Celebrity Theatresports, a staple of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, went off with a bang this season, with a colourful array of talented performers from stage and screen competing and collaborating in high paced and ridiculous improvised games.

Theatrical melodrama was inculcated in all aspects of the evening, even the judges: “hanging judge” Patrick Duffy invited ire from the audience with his abnormally harsh scores. Host Simon Dowling set the mood for the evening with his flamboyance and heightened grandeur, winning over audience members young and old with intermission lollies being flung into the air.

The four competing teams delivered many a wonderful moments of spontaneous hilarity. Lliam Amor’s ‘death by vacuum cleaner’ took us by surprise, Virginia Gay’s seductive song to startled audience member Harley involved no holding back, and Toby Truslove’s puppetry of Michala Banas and others was ridiculous and delightful. Lliam Amor even managed to squeeze in some current affairs commentary, singing I wish I was in New Zealand before consummating a kiss with the brilliant Jimmy James Eaton to win moment of the match.

For fans of theatresports, fear not, you’ve not missed out. The season finale (without the celebrities) is still on at The Space in Prahran. Many notable performers are also regulars at the Big Hoo Haa at the Portland Hotel on Thursdays.