The Groggy Squirrel

According to “Dave Thornton”:comic “If you’ve got a problem looking like an idiot, you shouldn’t be a comedian”.

Thornton’s pro-dork stance partly explains the clothes he’s wearing in the publicity material for his Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show, Euromission.

The outfit, which includes a fez, pants that leave little to the imagination and shoes that suspiciously can’t be seen on his “website”:http://www.davidthornton.com.au/ (“I just like heels”, the Geelong lad admitted), also identifies some of the countries he visited during his European vacation.

While the former graphic designer’s observation that the Eurovision Song Contest is akin to “Moomba on acid” suggests he isn’t a fan of that competition, he nevertheless came up with the idea of going to every European country that has been privileged enough to host it.

Dave will be regaling audiences during the Festival with his adventures in the old continent.

“I’ll be talking about travelling, backpacking, the times that you have (when you’re on holiday)”, he declared at perhaps the same moment as a waitress was dropping some hash browns on the coffee shop floor.

Dave chuckled at the breakfast food disaster, but he’s actually renowned for making gags at his own expense.

“Comedy (is) about your foibles and…the chinks in your armour. (That’s) basically what makes the best parts of comedy”, he said.

Given the promotional photograph for his show, it’s a good thing Dave can laugh at himself.

Mind you, he was able to use the Movember charity appeal as an excuse for possessing a moustache that makes him look like a 1970s porn star.

Comedy fans who aren’t into Deep Throat will be pleased to know the passé facial hair has been replaced by not shaving at all.

A review in The Age last year for Eye Candy, the MICF venture that featured Dave and three others, singled out the amiable ex-surfer for positive mention because of his “self-deprecating” style, but also put him in the list of Candy participants the critic thought were ugly.

While it might be presumptuous for The Groggy Squirrel to contradict a major newspaper, it wouldn’t be surprising if the girls down at the Geelong Surf Club used to think Dave was a bit of alright.

Incidentally, his involvement in MICF extends beyond Euromission to other endeavours including trying to make teenagers stop listening to thrash death metal punk whatever it’s called and smile(1).

The 27-year-old comedian shouldn’t have any trouble winning over littlies or adults, not the least because entertaining people runs in his family.

That’s right, Dave’s dad rocked Geelong years ago with his band, Peter Thornton and the Levis.

Hopefully Dave won’t damage the Thornton reputation by turning up to MICF in those pants.

Euromission will be playing from 17-29 April at Trades Hall. Book via the venue by calling (03) 9659 3569 or purchase tickets at the door.

1.For more information about the Festival’s attempts to appeal to young ‘uns, click “here”:http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007/news.php#14.