2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Reviews

Harley Breen – Son of a Preacher Man

Harley Breen’s first full length festival show, “Son of a Preacher Man” is an energetic, fun ride. Harley covers a variety of topics in this show but they are all linked back to the fact that he is a son of a preacher man.

Opening the show with a recording of the song of the same name, Harley launches into his accomplished stand up. Although keeping the mood and energy high Harley does touch on some poignant material, including attempting suicide, being called fat as a kid, being shit at running and not losing his virginity until the age of twenty two. The highlight is where he takes us on takes us through a memorable sequence about discovering masturbation. Each of these things he adeptly manages to link back to the overall theme of Christianity and his family. The show also includes a section where Harley drops into character as a preacher himself, a characterisation loosely based on his father. This is a fun interlude which identifies the ludicrous nature of scripture and suggests that nobody really understands it. However Harley is at his best when he is in his element being a straight stand up.

Harley is a good, solid stand up. His material could be bit confronting for some, but for those of us who like our comedians a little on the dirty side, he’s great. His experience of doing a lot of stand up in a lot of rooms over several years shows here. This show, though it won’t change you’re life, is a great way to spend an hour.

For booknig detail go to Harley Breen – Son of a Preacher Man