By Jennifer Beasley.
The best Queer comedian at the MICF, Costa, sweet and likeable, easily entertains his audience with killer wit, Gay sex stories of the bluest kind and laser insights.
I’ve seen a bit of Queer comedy at MICF this season. Which means you do get a bit jaded. Thankfully, Carmelo Costa breaks that mould.
His good-natured demeanour and likeability drew a sold-out crowd at a festival where one must fight with over 700 competing acts in order to stand out.
Well don’t worry. Costa is the best of the best Queer comedians and deserves to get greater notice.
Easily ad-libbing, Costa’s introduction settles and set the scene for a brilliant show. Briefly admitting his impulsivity may have caused some financial mismanagement (It’s ok, I have ADHD too) his sweetness and humour radiate off the stage. Basing the theme on returning to his parent’s home in his thirties, Costa shows his easy relationship with his Italian mum and dad and three sisters. Good hearted ribbing of family is par for the course for comedians, and Costa delivers great jokes, some of which have very raunchy content, so if you are sensitive to these topics then be warned.
I loved every minute. From his parents’ loving support of his gay adventures, to the invitation to a sex party where in the first hour one must indulge in light banter and cheese dips before you embark on an experience equal to a colonoscopy and gastroscopy.
When I’m reviewing shows, I’m always looking to see the potential and Costa has this in spades. He has plenty of ability to veer away from the well-worn tropes of gay humour, and his biggest laughs stem from his understanding of human behaviour in all it’s ridiculous foibles. Costa is studying psychology after all.
Costa demonstrates this with his parent’s response that they may be in the wrong – an echoing nooooo- which had the audience screaming with laughter. Too funny and he should be doing more physical comedy. Although I don’t know if my face will ever recover from the amount I was laughing!
You also know a comedian is good when a laugh fest of comedians come to watch his show. I spotted Harry Jun, an amazing comedian who wowed us at The Asian All Stars Gala, and Donna Collins, another gifted up and coming comedian.
Fantastic performer, and I couldn’t help but give him a hug at the end. That’s the type of person he is, he gives off the best energy. I predict an emerging talent here. Great job. For more on Costa and to support his career, please follow him on his Instagram page.
Carmelo Costa (@carmelorcosta) • Instagram photos and videos
