Review: JOKES MAGOTES at Regal Theatre for Perth Comedy Festival

Colin Ebsworth has been doing stand up for a decade now - no mean feat for someone so young. At 25 he has a cheeky and personable stage presence, comfortably spanning a range of topics from sex and relationships, to racial tensions abroad and at home, as well as a hilarious theory that Bunnings is secretly a cult.

Jokes Magotes, showing at the Regal Theatre for Perth Comedy Festival is a fast-paced show, moving swiftly between long and short form jokes. Direct interactions with the audience were very natural, drawing comedy not only from his prepared material but also from improvised jibes and puns. One of my favourite stories was his recollection of an American girl he once dated who insulted his looks, only to have his comedy training automatically kick in and dish it right back to her.

This type of reflexive, knee jerk comedy was a treat for an audience who felt like they were being invited into Ebsworth's world, rather than observing it from afar. Not content to be a mere wordsmith, Jokes Magotes was also peppered with some lovely moments of physical comedy - including a hilarious section on cunnilingus.

While Ebsworth's routine covered a lot of well-worn comedy territory (as well as a few more contemporary topics like transgender bathroom laws and the recent marriage plebiscite) the audience didn't seem to mind, basking in the comfort of familiarity. The edgier parts of his show elicited a few nervous giggles and appropriate noises of awkwardness and concern. But Ebsworth knows how to read a crowd, always shifting smoothly to a new topic whenever the audience started to lull, or when things got a bit "too real".

A multi award nominated comedian who has performed sell out shows across Australia as well as performing in the USA and Canada, Ebsworth is travelling fast and furious down the comedy highway. A very talented writer and performer, I am intrigued to see where he goes next.