By Nick Pilgrim
Opening night for this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival could not have been, well…any more Melbourne.
Bucketing down with rain, the only bright spot in Thursday evening’s miserable weather was Claire Cooper’s opening zinger where even she contemplated staying home.
Immediately setting the tone for her solid sixty minute set, Fun Show xx could almost add a tag along the lines like “The Art of Giving Up.”
A veteran of the Australian comedy festival scene, Hooper is also a familiar face on national television. Her small screen credits include hosting stints on a variety of shows including The Great Australian Bake-Off, Good News Week and The Side Show.
She has also made guest appearances on Stand-Up Australia, How The Quest Was Won, Rove Live, Sleuth 101, The Project, Hughesy, We Have a Problem, Celebrity Name Game, The Living Room, and Would I Lie to You?
These experiences underscore why the comic is at complete ease in the spotlight.
A natural at crowd work, some light banter with a brand-new septuagenarian in the front row almost threatened to highjack her set. That being said, Hooper is one of those rare individuals who can think on their feet and spin any story worth hearing into gold.
Hitting a milestone birthday herself in 2026, Hooper uses the experience on stage to explore inherent differences between her definition of fun, that of her man-child partner, her kids, various friends in the industry, and especially her parents.
Fun Show xx is up of an engaging mix of short stories and anecdotes, where these tales include:
- The best gift she ever received
- Whether bird watching is a good thing
- Why taking the tourism bus on Rottnest Island is never a good idea
- Competing with your mother, but being completely ‘out-mummed’ for trying
- How a kids’ talent show became the best rock concert ever
- Owning her Laser Tag Champion status
- What Type A and Type B fun really mean
- The shocking reality of thrift store shopping (that we never actually talk about)
- Her dad’s resilience battling a laundry list of health issues
The list goes on.
If there is one word to describe the comic’s appeal, it would be “relatable”. Viewers of a certain age and over will get her shtick, so much that I found myself periodically applauding her grab bag of fast facts and observations.
Furthermore, Hooper’s on-stage persona is a sharp mix of Saturday Night Lives’ Kristin Wiig, the droll wit of Denise Scott and Judith Lucy, or Rove McManus all rolled into one. It is quite refreshing to see a comic who uses their brains to win our approval without resorting to every cuss word under the sun.
Flying through her hour with consummate ease, Hooper is silly, self-deprecating, manic and sweet. I defy anyone not to be charmed.
Owning her brand and determined that everyone is there for a good time (while claiming she isn’t capable), that is the true essence of Fun Show xx. Following a short photo montage to wrap up proceedings, I especially appreciated how Hooper stood at the exit engaging with fans for a quick question or selfie after the show as well.
Playing for the full duration of the festival, I can’t think of a better way to ease into this year’s offerings than with Hooper’s gentle sense of wit.
