Here’s a tip: if you’re ever drinking alone, Adam Rozenbachs warns, don’t go on eBay. It’s sage advice from someone who has learned that lesson.
Chances are, even if you haven’t seen Rozenbachs live, he’s already made you laugh. An experienced scriptwriter for television shows such as Spicks and Specks, Before the Game and Skithouse, he’s gaining ground as a solo performer.
His show Traces of Nut leads the audience along a meandering path through Earth Hour, noisy school children, the Olympics and using the internet at work. His observational style finds humour in the mundane, and he’s quick on his feet with some improvised elements.
Rozenbachs opens with that tried-and-true subject, the Melbourne weather. This city is the only place, he opines, you can get frostbite on your sunburn.
Next he launches into the audience interaction. Throughout the show, he chats to the women sitting at the front. His questions are inquisitive, but not nasty, and propel his routine along by introducing his next topic. It can take some time to find laughs with this method but his witty responses do make it worthwhile.
The story of his recent shoulder operation keeps the packed room laughing. From x-rays to catheters, it’s nice to see he gets some mileage from a painful-sounding experience. Continuing in a personal vein, tales of living alone are also a big hit.
As the title hints, he’s allergic to nuts, but this only comprises a small part of his material. The show lacks an overarching theme and works in short snippets, moving from one idea to the next, often without segues. This style could seem fragmented but instead gives the performance a stream-of-consciousness feel, like having a chat with a funny mate.
It’s a shame that the story about the broadband ads spilled out in a somewhat garbled manner; more clarity would have improved this section. And for a writer, he sometimes comes across as a little wordy, repeating himself or commenting after the punch line. Trimming his script with a focus on concise delivery could increase the impact of his jokes.
Traces of Nut is a solid show that treads some familiar observational ground of work, relationships and daily life, but Rozenbachs handles it in a dry and insightful manner. This is a skilled and very funny comic on the up and up.
He’s a bit like really good chocolate: smooth, sweet, and free from nuts. Recommended.
Visit the comedy festival website for bookings and further details