Joel Ozborn – Be Here Now at Gluttony’s Pigtails – Adelaide Fringe Review

Joel Ozborn - Be Here Now Gluttony’s Pigtails, Fri Mar 6 An audience could be forgiven for thinking that Joel Ozborn has cornered the market in likeability. In the pool of young, cool, white male comedians (i.e. most of them), it makes him stand out. He eased himself into the gig with some welcoming noises and compliments to South Australia, zipped around with observations on regional accents and set up some rather routine bagging of corporations, even slipping into the clichéd comedy pilot voice at one point. But then he grabbed the show, moved through the gears and he became properly interesting. (Note – be confident with it, start earlier, we will get the smarter stuff). You’ve got to love a man who references Paulo Coelho and the pilgrims’ way to Santiago di Compostela in a comedy set, it more than makes up for a couple of hoary bait and switch routines. Ozborn has so much to offer it’s a surprise when he lobs a handful of old chestnuts into the mix. But this is early days for the show and once it settles I reckon the puns and groaners will disappear. He most catches the imagination with personal stories; realising at six that he was no match for Mozart at least shows he had enviable emotional intelligence. Ozborn covers a spectrum of topics and moves through religion and corporations to personal heroes and internet trolling, and includes a particularly thought provoking swipe at linguistic hypocrisy and offensiveness which could be the germ of a whole other show. Joel Ozborn is a totally watchable and engaging performer; his zest for life infectious. An amusing and skilfully structured show of broad appeal. Julia Chamberlain Joel Ozborn – Be Here Now continues at Gluttony’s Pigtails until Sun Mar 15. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.