Joke Protocol review | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Melbourne Town Hall

The opening to Con Coutis’ Joke Protocol is more thrilling than the start of any Bond or Mission Impossible films. Snappy dialogue, pulsing music, and a barrage of flawless sound effects set the tone immediately, and that is only the beginning. In this new show, Coutis is on a quest to capture the monogag, an object said to make its owner very, very funny.

He begins with a stretch of stand-up that is slightly out of place at first, but later reveals its purpose as he seamlessly weaves the material back into the narrative. His storytelling is rapid and fluid as he tracks down the monogag and attempts to prevent Quibbi - a streaming service which lasted eight months, that made quick, mobile-only shows designed to be watched in bite-sized chunks - from getting their hands on it and using its powers to take over the world. Extremely random but extremely fun too.

Coutis’ trademark tech recordings, sound effects and audience interaction are all here, but they reach another level in execution with this show. The cues land with split-second precision, every effect and voice recording so clean it feels less like a live show and more like a film unfolding in real time. There are plenty of surprises for both long-time fans and newcomers, including pulling audience members into the story by helping generate the show’s effects themselves.

The lighting design is particularly striking, transporting us from desert landscapes to the ocean and into fires with clean transitions. At other moments, it heightens the dramatic verbal sparring and fight sequences, adding an extra layer of intensity.

My only quibble - or should that be quibi? - is the ending, which arrives a little too abruptly. It creates a touch of whiplash, and a few small adjustments could help the final scenes hit with greater force before the show wraps up.

Joke Protocol is a slick, high-energy piece that blends sharp comedy with cinematic flair. Coutis delivers a tightly crafted experience that is technically impressive and effortlessly entertaining, proving he is still pushing the boundaries of what live comedy can look like.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Melbourne Town Hall, corner Swanston Street & Collins Street, Melbourne
Season: until 19 April | Tues - Sat 9:45pm, Sun 8:45pm

Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $32 - $34 Full | $28 - $30 Conc | $26 Tightarse Tuesday

Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival