By Jennifer Beasley.
Aliya Kanani, Gill Cordiner, Donald Vaughan and Courtney Maldo turn your bad dating blues into a comedy laugh fest.
Everyone’s has one, right? Or if you haven’t because you are blessed, know some poor unfortunate that has had one.
And no, it’s not gas, nor is it a HECS debt. I’m talking about the dreaded bad date.
Held at the tiny Askal, and grabbing a drink at the rooftop bar, my companion and I settle into the performance room where the luminous MC Aliya Kanani (Where are you FROM, from) bounces onto the small stage and blasts out some cracker jokes to the audience. She has her work cut out for her as this is a very reserved, Melbourne, crowd. Guys with arms crossed and women sitting back. But not my companion and me! As MICF veterans we were feeling the amazing vibe from Kanani!
A little bit blue and a hell of a lot funny, this award-winning Canadian actress and comedian is a 5-star comic. A perfect MC, she is warm, likable and great with this staid crowd, managing to wake them up enough that they could appreciate the show.
Introducing Scottish comedian Gill Cordiner, it becomes confusing as she seems to trail off from her bad date encounter and segues into sexual jokes about zoo animals, which are funny but leaves me wondering if the story about the bad date will be completed. But no.
However, the marvellous Kanani smooths things over and introduces the delightful Donald Vaughan. What a sweet and gorgeous guy. He’s one of those loveable gay men that have women falling over them. A teddy bear, he ranges over his set about gay encounters that are there to settle his anxiety! Sweet and totally adorable, Vaughan, a trained zoologist had us screaming with laughter when he tells us he is hosting a children’s science comedy during the holidays! Science Magic Messy Mayhem is a 5 star show and would be a great one for the kids. A genuine presence that makes women feel safe I hope he does a show next year for Midsumma.
The last contender is transgender Courtney Maldo, hailing from Perth. At 205 centimetres, Maldo uses her height to hilarious results. Another gorgeous and beautiful person, she added that bit of grind to the show. I love her. Not afraid to go there, her bad date experiences show that even a supermodel stunner like Maldo can have frightening experiences with crack up reflections that are enjoyed by the now-relaxed audience. Over too soon I can see Maldo as being the Next Big Thing, and I’m not just referring to her height! Her act is a solid 4 1/2 stars and the perfect rounder of the evening.
At the end, Kanani and Vaughan read out the audiences’ anonymous bad date stories. The winner of the night went to the gentleman down the back whose date cancelled 20 minutes before the show! Yet he still turned up which was great and he is now the proud owner of a Bad Date pen. No expense spared here!
Finishing too soon, at 50 minutes the comedians could do with more time. If I didn’t have such a full schedule Id be going to see their other shows but I’ll see what I can do. (Links provided below).
Thoroughly enjoyed it and no, it hasn’t put me off looking for the one. Might help if I went on dates though!
Aliya Kanani | Drink, Pray, Love | Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Gill Cordiner | Scary Queen of Scots | Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Donal Vaughan | Science Magic Messy Mayhem | Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Courtney Maldo | Gender Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll | Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Bad Dates Anonymous is playing at Askal, 6:00pm (167 Exhibition St) until 19th April 2026.
