Let's Hang Out - Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

It’s been three years since Jude Perl made her debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Is It Just Me? That and her subsequent show, Part Of This Complete Breakfast both won Green Room Awards in cabaret for Best Original Songs. Last week Perl won her third Green Room Award for Best Original Songs for her current comedy festival show, Let’s Hang Out, and it’s not hard to see why. 

The Texan born, Australian raised performer builds a great rapport with the audience with her laid-back nature and self-deprecating humour. Throughout the show Perl considers the various relationships she’s had over the years and how they have shaped her into the person she is today, from her mother, to her friends and partners. Perl extends this to include her relationship with herself, which includes one brilliant song that is performed from the perspective of her stomach.

There’s a strong familiarity to Perl’s songs and anecdotes in that these are stories and experiences we’ve either had ourselves or personally know someone who’s gone through it. Her recollection of trying to fit in with the cool kids in school and failing miserably being a perfect example of this. 

There’s a homeliness to Perl’s lyrics in that she’s not trying to be overly clever or uproariously funny. It’s in being honest and looking for the truth in what she is saying with her songs and music that the humour arises. Her look at being a responsible adult and the realities of being a performance artist is a highlight of the show. 

Watching Let's Hang Out has you feeling like you are sitting round someone’s living room and having a yarn about the ups and downs of life. The only difference is, in this instance, the host is superbly entertaining. 

Venue: Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Season: until 22 April | Tues - Sat 7.00pm, Sun 6:00pm
Length: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc | $20 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: MICF website