Sunday, 7 April 2024

My Treasures My Beautiful Treasures review (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

Tom Walker starts his show with incisive questions. To be more specific, that's what he says the review should open with as he is getting assistance to unlock the laptop he's using for his show, My Treasures, My Beautiful Treasures. While this kicks off in Walker's trademark absurdity, the rest of the show leans in on more traditional storytelling and stand-up, resulting in a very pleasant surprise.

So what are Walker's treasures? It is not what you would think. Firstly, it's not even an object. Instead, it's a list of pathetic men who are not hurting anyone. To elaborate on this would ruin the leadup and suspense, but trust that in true Walker fashion, it's not the type of men you would expect.

While Walker does make fun of the people he encounters, it is done in a very warm and respectful way. These are people he has been interested in for a number of years, and there is genuine affection in how he describes them, and in some instances, how he portrays them.

The music by Tom Cardy is mostly presented as background music but it is integral to the work. It's an extremely fitting score for Walker to go exploring into a culture or community that he knows little about, like Commander Keen fumbling through his alien worlds. It brings a sense of warmth and play to what Walker speaks off while retaining some of the wackiness you'd get from a Tom Walker show.

At the end of My Treasures My Beautiful Treasures, Walker is handing out zines with some “extra features” that include a QR code to a 17-minute video that allows you to further delve into Walker's mind and the men he adores. It's a perfect way to allow the charming world that Walker has shared with us to live a bit longer in our minds, and our pants.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton
Season:
 until 21 April | Tues - Sat 7:20pm, Sun 6:40pm
Duration:
 60 minutes
Tickets:
 $27 - $32 Full | $25 Conc and Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings:
 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

No comments:

Post a Comment