Gag Reflex review | La Mama Theatre

After realising that Schoolies in Fiji isn’t exactly free, three high school friends become increasingly desperate to figure out how to fund the trip. Cue a plotline that feels lifted straight from the world of American coming-of-age comedies like Blockers or Booksmart, packed with crass humour, fictionial sexual misadventures and painful learning curves.

Flick’s Gag Reflex adopts that mood wholeheartedly, delivering plenty of outrageous jokes while still allowing growth amongst its protagonists. Beneath the absurdity and sexual comedy is an astute exploration of friendship, insecurity and the confusion of teenage adolescence. It’s also very funny, leaning confidently into awkwardness, vulgarity and chaos without losing sight of the emotional stakes underneath.

The Lucky Ones review | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Malthouse Theatre

Best put on your seatbelt if you're seeing The Lucky Ones, because you're in for a very bumpy ride, but in all the right places if Carmen Walters has her way. The romantic erotic adventure writer has graced the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to share with us two of her erotic stories.

Performed and written by Rama Nicholas, the two stories while varying greatly in setting are as erotic as they can possibly be. Firstly, we are presented with a "ye olde time" tale that follows Lady Penelope and three men who wish to have her hand in marriage: Lord Vincent, Captain Cummings and Gill. The second story is a science fiction based one with space traveller Marlin having to deliver a police officer and its cargo to a secret destination.