[2014093] Chris Wainhouse – The Anti-Chris
Chris Wainhouse @ Gluttony – The Piglet
9:00pm, Fri 7 Mar 2014
So… I love comedy that pokes fun at religion. Like, really love it. And that’s a little odd, because whilst I’m a happy agnostic, I’ve got no problems with people who do follow a religion (as long as they don’t force that it anyone else). You know, each to their own, as long as they don’t hurt anyone. That kind of thing.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m not a militant atheist.
Unlike Chris Wainhouse.
And Wainhouse is a comedian. A hilarious, cutting, vicious comedian. He has no time whatsoever for religion – especially of the Christian fundamentalist varieties.
Which is super funny, since he was raised in a religious household… a full-on orthodox household. Like, no-doctors-God-will-fix-you-up creationist parents and siblings.
Which made the story of the time he broke a bone (his leg?) as a child unbelievable. That Wainhouse made the story both uproariously funny and an acerbic attack on fundamentalist beliefs was the work of a genius.
He treated us to an edited highlights package of his upbringing, including those moments that turned him into the staunch atheist he is today. And whilst religion is frequently his comedic target, there’s plenty of other material of equally good quality: at one stage, we didn’t laugh enough at a joke he thought deserved better, so he took an aside for an incredibly filthy story that did make us all laugh… “See what happens when you don’t laugh? It goes downtown.”
I’d tried to see Wainhouse the previous night and, as I was being turned away from that cancelled show, I’d explained that I couldn’t guarantee I would be able to squeeze another session into The Schedule… but I’m so very glad that I did. As far as I’m concerned, this was one of the best shows I saw at the Fringe this year: this is the type of comedy that could sustain me unto death. Loved loved loved it.
(93) Chris Wainhouse – The Anti-Chris: Oh my. Up there amongst the funniest standup I've seen this Fringe. Vicious! #ff2014 #ADLfringe
— Pete Muller (@festivalfreakAU) March 7, 2014