Celia Pacquola in Flying Solos

 Learning a new skill widely outside your comfort zone for a show seems to be the comedy zeitgeist.

 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2010 Presented By: Adams ManagementVenue: Melbourne Town Hall, Portico Room Thursday 25 March 2010 Learning a new skill widely outside your comfort zone for a show seems to be the comedy zeitgeist. Lawrence Leung learnt to break dance and now Celia Pacquola is tackling an extremely difficult 80s piano solo. By the way she really can’t play, you can ask her mum.
Pacquola gets busy demonstrating the many ways in which ‘flying solo’ in life can result in humiliation – for her.  Pacquola is a confident and truly likeable performer and you know that within minutes of outlining her task this audience all want to her to succeed.
Traditional stand-up, riffing on the theme of going it alone, is interspersed with footage of her Rocky-style piano quest and projected interviews with Pam, Celia’s mum. While the sound bites from Pam are hilarious, they add intimacy and vulnerability to Pacquola’s humour. She shares with us her teenage embarrassment, complete with photo evidence and dance re-enactments, and also the not so fun breakdown of her parent’s relationship.  It is this mix of slapstick and openness that really makes this journey one in which the audience believe. Pacquola’s skill is not only in making us laugh, it is in making you want to be her friend. 
Pacquola’s charm and excellent storytelling means we are not bogged down in pathos or schmalz, but entertained and uplifted. 
Pacquola won awards for her fringe show in 2008, and accolades including ‘Best Australian Act MICF 2009’.  In Flying Solos she has built on that past success to deliver a great show for 2010.
Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au Until 18 April 2010