Reviews

MICF: Jake Johannsen, Talking Show

At a very-well-aged 50-something and from the USA (he was a favourite on Letterman), I don’t think there’s anyone more middle class, middle aged, white, blue-eyed and heteronormative in the festival. With a mix of observational and anecdotal stand-up, his act is also as empty stage and microphone stand-up as it gets.

Jake Johannsen

And he gets that. He knows the only thing he has to complain about is that he’s getting older without too many complications – we may as well drink as we get older because we wake up feeling hungover anyway; best advice I’ve had all festival –  and that his best stories are about being happy with his wife and daughter.

None of which make him any less funny. His stand-up is some of the best around as he knows that comedy comes from telling the truth about everyday life; it’s not all misery, repression and misrepresentation. Happy people can be funny, too!

And I dare anyone not to like him.

Anne-Marie Peard

Anne-Marie spent many years working with amazing artists at arts festivals all over Australia. She's been a freelance arts writer for the last 10 years and teaches journalism at Monash University.

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Anne-Marie Peard

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