WIL ANDERSON - "I AM THE WILRUS"

2-26 April 1998 Melbourne Town Hall Corner Collins and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. For more details, see the official Comedy Festival site   Wil Anderson's stand-up show pales in comparison to similar acts at the Festival.  Where other people are using their own painful experiences of life to capture the audience and bring out the laughs, Anderson is still in the "Isnít it funny that?" stage.  No deep personal stories or insights, just observations on things external. He does attempt political satire but it soon descends into a wandering rant about John Howard, with very little to laugh at.  I dislike the little weasel as much as the next man, but what I expect from a comedian are observations or insights I haven't thought of myself, something that takes reality and gives it a twist.  What Anderson delivers is a fairly obvious string of comments about political issues, nothing you haven't heard before. Anderson does have a lot of energy and good timing in his favour.  If you want something less introspective, this might be your cup of tea.   Reviewed by Tim Richards.