Dave Thornton’s “Euromission” started by establishing how important booze and borrowing money are to young Australians abroad.
Both topics were discussed intermittently during the show, which was predictable in a good way and evidence of Dave’s knowledge of the importance of a bit of repetition in humour.
This method was used most effectively with the line about “making good time”.
Apparently, Dave’s dad used to use this as an excuse for not stopping for toilet breaks on car journeys to places like Ballarat when the stand-up was a boy.
It later popped up with much merriment in his observations about flying and immigration officials.
The material about Dave’s experiences as a kid on vacation with his family certainly hit the mark, with his references to generic soft drinks and Sunny Boy ice blocks funny and easy to relate to.
Europe might be a long way from regional Victoria, but his travels and travails in that continent would’ve also sounded familiar to many folks.
Given Dave was in his early twenties when he undertook his “rite of passage”, it wasn’t surprising that sex, alcohol and getting busted in his underpants dominated proceedings.
Dave employed the microphone as an effective prop during his discussion about visiting a sexual health clinic, although it wasn’t hard to feel embarrassed for his mum who was in attendance last night.
The use of snapshots of emails, a map and telephone messages also worked a treat.
Although the concept of visiting every country that held the Eurovision Song Contest was a fine way to structure the show and gave the comic the opportunity to play some deliciously cheesy videos, the guy from Geelong could’ve talked about his trip without mentioning that strange competition.
Dave’s delivery was a tad frenzied at times, while there was also a feeling he’s more intelligent, sensitive and politically engaged than his fans will allow him to be or he’ll let himself be in front of his mates.
Leaving aside the hope that Dave’s deep as well as blokey, he’s a skilled and charismatic performer who took the common experience of going on holiday and made it hilarious, interesting and occasionally moving.
In any event, his working-class masculinity is a nice balance to all those fey bourgeois chaps who dominate the Melbourne comedy scene (just visit a literary festival or something next time you’re overseas, Dave).
“Euromission” earned plenty of laughs, and fortunately most of them didn’t come from people finding the word “dykes” amusing.
“Euromission” is playing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) until the 29th of April. For booking details, check the MICF website