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Josh Thomas - Surprise
In spite of his tender years, Brisbane-born
stand-up Josh Thomas has quickly risen to become one of Australia’s most
prominent and distinctive comedic talents.
Winning Raw Comedy at 17, making the finals
of Edinburgh’s notoriously competitive So You Think You’re Funny,
a Logie nomination and a string of sold out shows around the
world have made the pint-sized Thomas a household name in his native
land, his profile bolstered by regular appearances on Rove,
Talkin’ ‘bout Your Generation, Good News Week and The 7PM
Project.
Evidently not content to rest on his
laurels, Josh returns with a brand new show, Surprise, which was
filmed as part of the Warehouse Comedy Festival and was also nominated
for a Barry Award for Best Show at the 2010 Melbourne International
Comedy Festival.
The premise, as it turns out, isn’t
actually all that much of a surprise - Thomas is now openly gay, a fact
which he says didn’t come as much of a shock to family and friends; his
delicate appearance, effete mannerisms and longheld distrust of vaginas
evidently all contributing factors. The show revolves around that
time-honoured theme of coming to terms with one’s sexuality,
interspersed with the wryly self-deprecating observations and
devil-may-care pathos that have become Thomas’s hallmarks.
Certain confidences (such as the penchant
of Josh’s first boyfriend for urinating in the shower) can be filed
under TMI, and his act was funnier when his themes were universal, but
Surprise is still an excellent representation of the 23-year-old
comic, and a tight show and some well-chosen bonus features make this a
must for his ever-growing legion of fans.
Special Features
Josh Q & A: A
12-minute segment that takes place in Josh’s kitchen, wherein he answers
the big questions such as ‘Who would you turn gay for?’ and ‘Why are you
so damn sexy?’
Rove Spot 2008: One of Josh’s
earliest, and best, national TV appearances
Bits From Other Shows:
16-minute’s worth of jokes and anecdotes that, you guessed it, comprise
bits of other shows. Included are such startling revelations as
‘sometimes I smoke marijuana’ and that he once visited a strip club with
friends, the wicked fellow! There’s some great material here, and it’s
a nice way to round out the hour-long show itself. |
