By Jennifer Beasley.
MICF’s Zen master of comedy.
Welcome to MICF!
For those recovering from that cheery opening it’s time to do all things funny at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
First off the rank (for me anyway), is the fantastic Adele Cliff. Super hard to choose whom to see when there are 400 shows and over 100 international acts, with British Superstar Adele Cliff (the only woman to have won the UK Pun contest in 2020, and who has been to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival TEN times-WOW!) leading the pack.
Choosing Cliff was easy. Her name starts with A and requires no effort on my part to go, ‘yeah, sure, lock this one in awesome editor!’ Also, the title of her act is the longest one in MICF, and anyone who needs to write their first name three times must have more front than Myers, so I was in!
Nor was I, or my companion, disappointed. Playing to a packed room at the quaint Tasma Terrace located at Parliament Place, a brisk 150m walk from Parliament Station, we explored the heritage listed building before the show began at 6 pm sharp.
And what a show! Flame haired Cliff claimed – and conquered – the small stage, as she performs a well written comedy show to her eager audience.
The first thing Cliff says is ‘well it’s easy to book me as my name starts with A and is the first on the list.’ Um, yes. Good spot there and I hid behind the big guy in front of me in case she decided to pick on the reviewer. But Cliff is too kind to do any such thing. She observes. Beautifully.
This is how a superb comedian structures and delivers comedy. Whimsical, witty and oh-so-funny, she weaves her ‘cat woman vibe’, jelly fixation, and tonal changes with introspection on her mother’s passing by packaging it all into a thematic box tied with a bow on the consequences of lying.
This woman is one massive funny bone, and lovely to boot. Her comedy is delivered with integrity and wit, and her generous personality shines through at every stage. Cliff is incredibly likeable. Her delivery is well paced, and her act is outstanding, with seamless segways from one connecting piece to another, displaying a true mastery of her craft (she trained at The Second City in Chicago).
Unafraid of sharing her vulnerabilities, the audience soon feel like we are part of her family, as Cliff steers our emotions from sadness and the examination of death, to joy in a dying parent’s love of her comedian child, before switching up a gear and ending in riotous laughter. This is a rare achievement and a testament to Cliff’s writing and performance talent.
Pun followed anecdote followed layered joke (spot the comedy device of mixed film references- go on, I dare you!) as Cliff winds up her show.
An amazing performance full of vitality and life, with the audience clapping and whooping at the end. A great achievement Adele, you should be proud. I think you are magnificent.
Do not miss this, a solid 5 stars!!!
Adele, Adele, Adele…Cliff It Isn’t The Consequences of my own Actions plays at Tasma Terrace at 6PM until 20th April 2025.
