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Comedy Review: Claire Hooper, et al, hosted by Thomas Green

By Sam Bond

Posted on June 12, 2014

As the headline act, former Triple J Breakfast host Claire Hooper was preceded by four local comedians and MC Thomas Green in a night of stand up comedy.

Presented by Adelaide Comedy.com
Reviewed 11 June 2014

Approximately 30 people attended the Marion Hotel on Wednesday night for Claire Hooper’s opening night of her June Adelaide Comedy season. Hooper is best known for her role as a Team Captain on Network Ten’s Good News Week.

The former Triple J Breakfast host has also appeared on Rove Live, ABC TV’s The Sideshow, The Comedy Channel’s Stand Up! Australia and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Great Debate in 2007.

As the headline act, Hooper was preceded by four local comedians and host, Thomas Green, who together did an excellent job of warming the audience up. Green is a school teacher by day who professes that, though he doesn’t think he’s old at the grand old age of 27, school children quickly remind him how ancient he is. Green lamented on teenage girls who do not yet understand the art of face to make-up ratio, and the mystery of why teachers on yard duty must wear high vis vests to set them apart from the student body.

Next up was Brandon J Mannarino, whose dark comedy, impressive forehead and Amish beard set him apart from his contemporaries. He was followed by well known local, Lori Bell, who provided the adult humour of the evening. Dave Campbell treated audiences to an insight of life in Adelaide’s most bi-polar suburb, Prospect, which has no middle class, just upper class and ghetto. Final act before the main event was the hilarious Mike Klimczak who noted that 22 was too young to remember what KFC stands for, or to know what dial-up internet sounds like.

Hooper began her set with the irreverent observation that she’d never seen The Notebook and that skim milk can go f*ck itself. From there, the tone of the show was set. This is Hooper’s first stand-up solo show since becoming a mother 4 months ago and as to be expected, much material focused on life after baby – the love, the ineptitude, the labour. Those who’ve seen Hooper previously will be glad to know that motherhood hasn’t changed her that much. She still loves a good fart joke or fifty, and this time she has even graduated to stories about poo. Hooper’s husband copped a lot, but that’s OK: he’s a Kiwi, never finished high school, and is on his ‘P’s’.

Hooper’s delivery was spot on and her audience interaction, natural and intimate. The flatulence and poo jokes got a bit repetitive after a while but overall, her set was very funny. Most new mums are still learning to cope with sleep deprivation at four months, but not this motivated professional. A fun and funny night out for all, get along and see a bunch of great comedians for a bargain price.

Reviewed by Samantha Bond
Twitter: @SamStaceyBond

Venue: Marion Hotel, Mitchell Park
Remaining season dates and venues: