You know by the title alone that if you’re offended by someone picking on religion, this isn’t the show for you. This is especially true if you believe the current pope is a cute and cuddly guy.
But if you’re more open-minded and could easily perceive God as a Scottish drag queen (after all, we are all made in His image), then Mike Delamont’s one-man comedy show will have you grinning from ear to ear. Performing for two nights only as part of Intrepid Theatre’s Uno Fest (last show tonight at 8:30pm, Metro Studio), Delamont isn’t afraid to pick on any subject or any individual.
That said, however, his show has a comfortable, witty feel that will appeal to a large audience. He doesn’t see the need to get crude or swear just for a laugh (profanity is used more for spice than covering everything in a thick, blue sauce), preferring instead to rely on his wit and comedic insights. In short, his heart shows through in every joke and it’s a tender one at its core — unless you come from Guatemala; he’s not a fan of the place.
Delamont’s believability as God in human form is near-perfect, especially his fondness for ’80s business dress, complete with shoulder pads for a “permanent shrug.” He only falters when picking on redheads as it’s well known that Gingers are His chosen people (at least that’s what my mum told me — and mums don’t lie.) Sure, we’ve been picked on ever since the first Ginger, Adam, stole God’s snack-time apple, but redheaded Noah proved we were still His favourite when he was given a boat to survive the Great Flood. Of course, he was also given a great big manure shovel, just to show He still held a bit of a grudge.
Although religion forms the trunk of Delamont’s show, he is certainly not rooted to it. With a flowing mind and an ability to wander off-topic with ease, Delamont branches out into areas that are specific to Victoria for his own take on what makes this city tick. To that end, tonight’s show won’t be the same as last night’s, which is a great thing as Delamont is able to keep his material fresh and relevant to his audience.
If I have one niggle, it’s that Delamont needs to create a final punch line that allows him to leave the stage on a big audience belly laugh. His ending at the moment is sincere and heartfelt, but makes for a better encore than the climax of his show. M
GOD IS A SCOTTISH DRAG QUEENBy Mike Delamont14+, $18, stand-up comedy, 80-minutes, Metro Studio