Wil Anderson has been on stage at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival almost as long as I have been alive. Wil’s 22nd show, Critically Wil, kicked off at the Melbourne Comedy Theatre, beginning with a recorded acknowledgement of the stolen Indigenous land we were meeting on (which I have since heard at a few other shows), met by applause from the audience.
Wil Anderson largely attracts a certain demographic to his shows — socially-conscious folks who care about politics and human issues, as well as a smaller percentage who recognise him from one of his many television appearances over the years. Honestly, any staunch One Nation supporters would have had a pretty uncomfortable time at this show, or any of Wil’s over the past few years.
Wil kicks off his show with American politics and the unexpected rise of Donald Trump in the country where he lives half his year. Wil Anderson is unforgiving and unforgettable, tackling every current contentious topic including a marvellous logical throw down of the anti-vax movement, spurred by an angry letter he received from a naturopath who attended last years show.
There were a few comedic misses (one joke focused on using stereotypical representations of people with autism as a punchline, straying from Anderson’s usual ‘punch up’ philosophy). There was also a borrowing of one of my favourite Tim Minchin lines about science and its disbelievers – ‘if gravity is just a theory then maybe you’ll float away’.
Wil deconstructs ideas and thought processes with wit and subtle humour. People desperate for politicians that don’t sound like politicians, ladders of privilege, and the way his own life experiences shape his worldview. Critically Wil is a thinking show, challenging ideas and toeing the line between a one person debate and a well thought out speech.
Critically Wil is a fast-paced peek into the mind of one of Australia’s best standup comics, along with a fantastic clever night out sure to leave your brain ticking for a few hours afterwards.
- Jasmin
Jasmin Ashton is a designer, marketer and freelance writer from Melbourne who has a lot of feelings about everything. Find them at @Jasmanna.
Critically Wil runs until April 23rd at Melbourne Comedy Theatre and the Arts Centre. Purchase tickets now.
The venue is accessible.
Read The Plus Ones’ guide to MICF 2017, and visit often to see all our reviews.
