Comedy Festival: Heads-A-Plenty – A Tasmanian Showcase

Tasmanians, or Taswegians as I affectionately call them, have a weird ability to find one another in the big smoke of Melbourne, like a subconscious sniffer-dog complex. For a population of only half a million people, they’re surprisingly common here in Melbourne, as it’s the go-to Taswegian expat destination. I should know, I lived in Hobart for three years and now I date my very own Taswegian. So of course naturally we headed off to ‘Heads-A-Plenty‘ at the Imperial Hotel to support the Tasmanian comedians braving the MICF.

First up, for a showcase called ‘Heads-A-Plenty’, I was mildly disappointed by the lack of two-headed comedians or jokes (ba dum tccch). But maybe they’ve heard that enough from people who, like my Dad, roll that joke out every time they encounter somebody from the Apple Isle.

The Tasmanian showcase didn’t disappoint, all three of the guys were down to earth and totally relatable. There were tit-bits from life in Tassie (such as the man with no arms in Wynyard and Hobart’s award winning roundabout), terrible puns that made us all groan and the usual crowd involvement, and heckling of course. Headliner Jono Mastripolitio was a loveable BFG who played up any awkwardness perfectly by calling out all the men clearly ‘manlier’ than he was – such as those with beards or who spent money on pants.

I’ve always preferred comedy to be relatable to me, so of course the Tasmania Showcase was a great way to spend my Good Friday afternoon. But, Taswegian, New South Welshman or Victorian, everybody will get something out of this show.

-Charli W.
Charli is a creative writer, food lover, and Harry Potter aficionada in her last year of a History degree. She is sure she will find a way combine these things one day, to great success. If not, she’ll pack up and become a bartender somewhere in the Caribbean with a fabulous year-round tan.

Heads-A-Plenty‘ runs every day over the Easter long weekend, and then every Saturday and Sunday until April 17. 

Check out our guide to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for more great shows.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of ‘Heads-A-Plenty’.