I'll Allow It review | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | The Westin

Re-reading the description of Bronwyn Kuss' new stand-up show I'll Allow It, I realise it has absolutely nothing to do with the material she presents. Was it written before she knew what it was going to be about? Quite possibly. Even the title doesn’t tie into anything she covers. Does it matter? Not in the slightest. If you’re looking for a show that delivers on its blurb, you're better off elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a show that brings the laughs, then you’re in the best place to be.

This is my second year watching Kuss, and while she leaned heavily into dry and sarcastic in 2024, in 2025, she feels lighter - still dry, still sarcastic but there's a bit more of a playfulness to her. Her content roams widely, but most of it can be grouped into the three great certainties of life: family, death and board games. Each of these themes is covered through a variety of approaches and reflections, and are not given a specific length of time, but rather she weaves between them.

She shares stories of growing up in a small regional Queensland town - complete with visits to the local “video store” - and her mother has a few memorable appearances, particularly for her surprising ability to conduct not one, but two citizens’ arrests. On the death front, Kuss expresses her fascination with Bryan Johnson, a tech billionaire who wants to live forever (which involves taking 100 pill a day) and her curiosity around longevity studies, specifically the Blue Zones, places where there’s a high proportion of centenarians. Covid also gets a look in, with a highly entertaining exploration of how deaths were announced and responded to.

And then there’s board games. My kind of topic. Her re-enactment of when someone is forced to play a complicated board game with an over enthusiastic host is extremely accurate, and had me feeling very seen. Childhood games - however inappropriately named - and sports games get mentioned as well. At one point, Kuss explains that there’s a joke in her act for every single person in this sold-out performance. Mine was her Cluedo reference, not just my favourite game, but my favourite film too.

I'll Allow It is a showcase of sharp storytelling, smart observations, and punchlines that often catch you off guard in the funniest ways. Kuss knows exactly how to work a crowd - and she makes it seem effortless. It’s a toned down style of brilliance that doesn’t need to shout to be heard.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Westin, 205 Collins St, Melbourne
Season: until 20 April | Tues - Sat 9.10pm, Sun 8.10pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $30 - 34 Full | $28 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Image credit: Nicole Reed