Carl Barron showed his unhinged side. Photo / Richard Robinson
Carl Barron works in mysterious ways. Even before he took the stage he was talking to himself, which got him started on whether that meant there was more than one of him.
That was the first of many odd, unrelated musings, as he pondered the meaning of life
via the most banal of subject matter.
The Aussie comedian obviously spends a lot of time analysing social interactions, questioning his thoughts and behaviours until they are transformed from the mundane to the absurd and eventually, to the hilarious.
The genius of this is that he'll never run out of material, whether it's pointing out the stupidity of common phrases, poking fun at management-speak, or taking every word in its most literal sense.
He also likes fart jokes, and impersonating members of his family, who must be just as dry as him.
Unlike the many slick stand-ups who appear to parrot their favourite lines, a night with Barron feels as natural as hanging out with a mate who just happens to be really funny.
He's also a flirt, as a female late-comer discovered. Justine might have been embarrassed but she was proof that Barron can be spontaneous. Oh, and ladies, if you weren't already charmed, he also speaks un peu francais and plays piano, complete with nonsensical lyrics and whooping-cough drum.
Although the night lagged slightly when Barron ventured into relationship territory - not his strong suit in the real world, by the sound of it - his wild, unhinged side kept the laughs up for the rest of the night. Maybe it's his googly, Mr Bean eyes, his random body movements, or his voicing of things we all think but don't say, you almost believe him when he says, "I should be locked up".
That would be a real shame as the world would be a much duller, more convoluted place without him.
Review
* Who: Carl Barron
* Where: SkyCity Theatre
* Reviewer: Rebecca Barry
