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| Sam Simmons is performing at the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Picture: comedyfestival.com.au |
3 out of 5.
Sam Simmons is a peculiar man with an even peculiar appearance.
Balding on top but seemingly hairy everywhere else, this funny guy bears a striking resemblance to your bitter, cynical and sharp-tongued grandfather, circa the nursing home years.
Best known for his weekly segment, Shitty Trivia, on radio’s Triple J, Simmons’ one man show sure does impress.
About the Weather focuses on the annoyance of making small talk with strangers, and follows the life of 'Man', a character in which engulfs Simmons as an angry, lonely middle aged white collar worker, with deep anger management issues.
The audience watches as the banal life of Man springs to life when he falls in love with 'Bus-crush- Tania' – a fellow public transport commuter, relayed by imagination of the narrator.
The whole show’s model is based on the idea of improvisation and monologue, with added elements of audience participation, and is divided into four acts – with the last one becoming a slight effort as Simmons screams, sweats and spits as the show’s narrative hurls humorous rants.
Without minimal direction in the storyline, there is definitely potential to become completely dazed and confused as an audience member. Even Simmons himself admits the show is “a little bit weird,” but really, when is Simmons’ comedy not weird?
If you appreciate the simplicity of Simmons' usual comedy, enjoy a twisted fairytale and loathe the art of small talk, then you will enjoy About the Weather.
A note of warning – if you don’t fancy yourself being dry humped on-stage by Simmons himself, avoid sitting in the front row.
Similarly, if you don’t fancy yourself being pointed to as “garden gnome!” then don’t sit in the front row, either.
In fact, if you want to enjoy this show at all, don’t sit in the front row.
About the Weather performs in the Supper Room at the Melbourne Town Hall, March 29 - April 22. (No Mondays)
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