On 17 August, I revisited an old favourite in Rochester Comedy, a free comedy night upstairs at the Rochester Hotel. Rochester Comedy is a weekly comedy night held on Thursdays that is accessible for seasoned comedy goers and novices alike. On this night we saw the talents of Peter Jones (MC), Joe Shaffer, Brianna Williams, Bart Freebairn, Laura Dunemann, Izzy Ali and headliner, Fiona O’Loughlin.
Peter Jones, our MC for the night, guided us through a packed night of comedy. He has settled into his style and consistently performs quality sets. Peter’s a good MC and ran a tight night packed with talent.
Two comedians with contrasting but equally enjoyable styles were Joe Shaffer and Bart Freebairn. Joe opened up with a haunting impression that stuck with the audience. His giggly style complemented deceptively deep social commentary. Bart kept it light and brought consistent laughs covering many relatable issues from travel to home comforts.
For something a bit different, Brianna Williams performed a short sketch in the lead up to her 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival Show ‘Mummy’. After seeing her 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show ‘La Petite Merde’, it’s clear Brianna is uncompromising and commits to a bit whether it is a festival show or just a short piece in a pub.
Laura Dunemann delivered a delightful set, based on seemingly real experiences. Laura’s style is disarming and often surprises audiences, particularly if they haven’t seen her perform before. Izzy Ali followed and performed one of the best sets I’ve seen him put together. He opened and closed strongly, performing with a relaxed ease.
And finally, Fiona O’Loughlin is a gem - a word she may disapprove me using but she performed an awesome set and was the standout for the night. Fiona is honest, a little brutal and occasionally goes too far but doesn’t mind at all. She tells deeply personal stories that capture the entire room’s attention. Fiona has a unique way of covering the things we wish we could say but don’t, closing out the night with waves of laughter.
Thanks Rochester Comedy for another awesome night!
If you are a comedian, get in touch and we can sit down for an interview to talk about comedy. Or if you have a 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival show you want to talk about or want reviewed, contact Hugging Comedians on Facebook, Twitter or through the website.