Appearing at The Westin – Three at 7.30pm (6.30pm Sundays) until April 19. Tickets and more information at comedyfestival.com.au/alex-ward
It’s been fantastic to witness Alex Ward’s rise to stardom in recent years, given that in her early days, she was arguably the hardest working comedian in the country, with it being rare to see the bill of a line-up show in which she wasn’t featured.
So it’s been wonderful to see in the last few years that all of that hard work has paid off with great success for the phenomenally talented Ward, with TV appearances on shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention?, as well as an hilariously ill-fated one on Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee, which Ward revisits in detail in her current show.
Ward’s warm, easy-going style has a way of disarming an audience immediately, and she’s never afraid to poke fun at her own foibles and quirks. Ward revels in analysing life’s little embarrassing moments and interactions, and her comedic targets are effortlessly relatable.
This year’s show – Literally Anyone – is a great treat for long-time fans or a perfect introduction to Ward’s brand of comedy, with special mention of a story in which Ward recounts revolving around a quiz question she asked her wife involving the Jason Bourne movies. I won’t reveal any further, but the show is worth the price of admission for that anecdote alone.
While the show revolves mainly around her efforts to conceive a child with her wife with the help of a sperm donor, Ward also finds plenty of time to find humour in everyday life, such as a mention of the condition of prosopagnosia (aka facial blindness), and how that led to some awkward interactions with strangers.
Ward has crafted an incredibly tight hour with this show, and while the central topic might suggest a more serious tone, Literally Anyone is just as wry, disarming and endearingly silly as always.
While some comedians go out of their way to make an audience uncomfortable and delight in awkward audience interaction, Ward’s show is the complete opposite, with the only awkward moment (for me at least) coming when she mentioned there was a reviewer in the audience, and I slunk into my seat lest my identity be uncovered.
I have no doubt that in the years to come, Ward’s star will only continue to rise, and she’ll be a household name on the comedy circuit.
A high recommendation to one of the best shows I’ve seen so far at this year’s Comedy Festival, in what is easily Ward’s best show to date.
4.5/5 Stars
TINSEL and TAP SHOES 