Umit Bali Has Got A “Flight Plan” And He’s Not Afraid To Use It – Adelaide Fringe Review

Producers Nook, Wed Mar 4 This may be my feel-good show for the festival. Umit Bali was a joy to spend time with for his hour’s show. He’s a powerhouse of energy, but disciplined with it and he just radiates positivity. He puts more experienced and skilful comedians to shame with this straightforward story of coming to Australia from Fiji, legally, as a kid, and then staying on... illegally. Down the road at Writers' Week people would take 300 pages to tell this story and they would not be nearly as much fun or as moving. Bali is a young man, who looks about ten years younger than his calendar age; he’s short with an expressive face and a huge smile. There’s something Chaplinesque about him, with his ability to communicate an underdog’s story of adversity, injustice, loyalty and love. Many comedians spend an hour whinging about difficulties in their lives, mainly involving hubristic moments of their own making, but they should all get over themselves and listen to this courageous story of survival and brutally hard work, told at breakneck speed and without a scrap of sentimentality or self pity. It’s a perfect festival show – there are some bits that could be lifted into a club set, but in the main it’s storytelling. At times it’s a bit raw and clunky, but it’s passionate, honest and true and as an audience member you really want to know what happens. I think Umit has got funny bones; he’s not yet a wordsmith and he’s burning his life story in his first show but as long as he doesn’t allow his subject matter to become mundane and he eases up on the unforgivable puns Umit Bali is set to endear himself to comedy crowds for a long time. Julia Chamberlain Umit Bali: Flight Plan continues at Producers Nook until Sat Mar 14. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.