Hannah Gadsby Performs Her Fabulous Style Of Comedy In “Donkey” – Adelaide Fringe Review

ComedySuperNova's Mars Room, Thu Mar 5 Hannah Gadsby is in good company among a seriously solid crew of hilarious female comics at this year's Fringe. Where does the idea that women are not funny even come from? It’s insane. The funniest shows I’ve seen this year have been put on by women and Gadsby rates in the top echelon of that group. Taking a very personal approach to comedy works for Gadsby; her life is a goldmine of material, and she mines it. But she doesn’t aim for straight down the line self-deprecation like so many comics do, and that is where much of her genius lies. Gadsby claims it, makes it funny, but doesn’t make cheap jokes at her own expense. The jokes are there, and there are many of them and they are so funny it hurts, but there is a sense of pride in her delivery. She’s claiming her life and just because she’s making us laugh doesn’t mean she’s the butt of the joke. There’s a subtle line there and a small thing perhaps, but it is one of the reasons Gadsby shines in a group of pretty extraordinary female comics. One of the other reasons she shines is the fearless way she interacts with the crowd. It was beautiful to watch her stop the show mid-joke for a heckler and call him to account. She didn’t let it sit. She needled gently, then not so gently, to get to the bottom of the interruption. When it all went a bit too far and the audience member crossed a line, she deftly shifted the mood and in one fell swoop reclaimed the room. It was stunning to watch: Gadsby is a seriously gifted stand-up and Donkey is a ripper of a show. Lynette Washington Hannah Gadsby continues at ComedySuperNova's Mars Room until Sun Mar 15. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.