The Groggy Squirrel

Courteney Hocking has an effervescent presence that makes you want to smile even before she opens her mouth to deliver her own brand of winning comedy, which she puts to great effect in Mixing Pop & Politics, her latest hour of stand-up. And vintage stand-up is exactly what it is- in a comedy festival replete with high concept shows in which some props or a guitar seems almost a mandatory minimum, it’s refreshing to see a comic who is prepared to go it alone with her voice and her stories, and not only come out shining on the other side, but bring the audience right along with them.

The show could have equally been titled ‘Generation Y’, as this is a theme that Hocking repeatedly touches on during her ramble through such seemingly random topics as her previous jobs and her love for cycling while Springsteening. While initially unfocused, a question slowly emerges, woven through the various threads of her thoughts: “What does my generation stand for? What does it mean for someone who has lived their whole life under a Howard government to finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel? And is generation Y lazy, or just a bit busy playing Scrabble on Facebook at the moment?” While none of these questions are ever answered, they provide valuable starting points for a series of nonstop laughs from the audience, propelled ever forward by Hocking’s genial charm. While many comics use a show as an opportunity to vent their rage on all and sundry, this comedian prefers to skewer only those who are truly deserving: fans of McLeod’s Daughters.

There’s nothing here that is overly ground-breaking or original in terms of concept, but if an hour of feelgood comedy is what you are looking for, this evening is highly recommended.

View the comedy fesival website for bookings and further details