From the minute you enter Max Watt’s in Melbourne you know you are in for something joyous. Pink lights, disco ball and the Sister Act soundtrack blasting at full volume. Audience members are dancing in their seats and that’s before Nath Valvo begins his magic.
There is no dead air. There are no weak moments. From the minute Valvo launches onto stage he has everyone in the palm of his hand. Valvo makes a clear point very early – he is not here to pick on the audience, he doesn’t want to share the attention, and nor should he. What ensues is an utterly hilarious and manic journey via Valvo’s box of childhood trinkets and a questionnaire completed on the first day of primary school.
For such an energetic opening and positive preposition, the message is a simple one: all your dreams are dead, the most significant moments in your life have probably already happened.
Valvo is honest, self-deprecating, and very, very funny – this should be no surprise to those who have seen him before. The content of his material is not complex, the ideas are easy to grasp. His passionate and creative delivery is a well-refined art with a simple anecdote about his partner’s favourite mug an absolute highlight.
The show concludes with an example of Valvo almost achieving his childhood dream. Leaving Max Watt’s to the tune of Delta Goodrem’s Born to Try one simply can’t help but think – Nathan Valvo’s dreams may be dead but his future as a comedian certainly isn’t.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022 Venue: Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston St (opp Town Hall), Melbourne Dates: Thurs 31 March – Sun 24 April Tickets: $25 – $35 Bookings: comedyfestival.com.au