[2014065] Dave Campbell: Insanarchy
Dave Campbell @ Horner and Pratt
10:30pm, Wed 26 Feb 2014
The last time I saw Dave Campbell during a Fringe, I loved the intent, but not necessarily the content… nor the execution. But I’ve seen him performing locally a few times since then, and have developed a familiar respect for his work; chance meetings with Campbell throughout this Fringe resulted in some enjoyable conversations, so I promised him I’d see his show if I could squeeze it in. And this evening, on the final night of his Fringe, I dashed across the road from Tandanya and made it upstairs just before the show started.
Dressed in his usual goth-rock attire (an oddness in itself, with his extravagant boots and belt almost dwarfing his scrawny frame), Campell confidently covered a collection of familiar material: yes, his spectacular family tree stump is still covered, because it’s a bloody brilliant story. But Campbell’s toned down the more abstract parts of his act since 2011, and it feels like this show had been well honed during its run; whilst not every joke was a winner, they were short and sharp, so misses rolled by before I had a chance to recognise them.
And sure, a lot of his laughs come at his own expense, but there’s an awful lot of heart in his show too… with his honesty comes warmth, so whilst we’re laughing at tales of his own insecurities, twitchily delivered, we’re identifying with him, too. Time may have mellowed Dave Campbell somewhat (and he’s still but a youngster), but it’s also done good things for his comedy.
(65) Dave Campbell: Insanarchy: More off-the-wall craziness (and very nearly assault) from a man who's his own cousin. #ff2014 #ADLfringe
— Pete Muller (@festivalfreakAU) February 26, 2014