Don't Let Me Eat My Babies review (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

Holly Bohmer coolly enters the stage, cradling a baby in her arms. She stares out at the audience, challenging them. Then there’s a mic drop. Except instead of a mic, it’s a baby. A baby drop. Welcome to the sketch comedy Don’t Let Me Eat My Babies.
 
In her debut solo show, Bohmer presents a variety of characters born from her mind and nursed into existence. From an artistic perspective, this mind is delightfully wicked and oddly enchanting. We meet a woman growing frustrated with a retail assistant because the only clothes available are for “huskier” women. Then there’s a Lifeline worker who despite successfully keeping her suicide rates low, probably should be looking for other work. Bohmer leans into uncomfortable playfulness, highlighting the absurdity of real-world interactions in a way that is unsettling and amusing.

That being said, not every sketch reaches the same level of strangeness or unpredictability. Some characters, like the travelling salesman and the Kathmandu puffer-wearing footy bloke, are entertaining enough, but feel like they could go deeper down the rabbit hole. With a show that claims to embrace the macabre, there’s a desire for these moments to escalate into wilder and surprising territory.
 
Bohmer’s simple yet distinctive costume choices help define each person, but her most striking transformation comes with the mask and fins of a sea creature patiently waiting for its eggs to hatch. This sketch allows her creativity and expression to shine, and its return throughout the show suggests it’s a favourite of Bohmer's as well as her audience. Likewise, the modest but effective sound and lighting sets the tone nicely, establishing environments and letting her creations become more fully realised.
 
While Don’t Let Me Eat My Babies could push the boundaries of dark humour further, it’s a promising debut from Bohmer. She has nurtured these characters, letting them take on a life of their own. Now, I'd love to see her unleash the bizarre potential of her comedy and steer these creations to even weirder and unexpected places.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until Sunday 6 April | 7.15pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $29 Full | $25 Conc & Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival