Henry Bretz, Australia’s most available comedian (self-described), is about 20 minutes into his set when he addresses the audience: “We can’t procrastinate this any longer.”
What we can’t procrastinate any longer, is the dick pic he sent his dad’s mate. The title of the show, the supposed apex of the performance, the reason we’re all here: and it’s not even in the top 5 funniest bits of the show, such a packed and prolific hour of comedy is this.
Bretz is an immensely likeable and confident performer, effortlessly getting the audience on side (even after some were ruthlessly culled, the Hoot 6 at Hoots @ The Apex proving no match for Fringe-goers wishing to watch Bretz’ show tonight): he has a natural and boisterous delivery, which is accentuated by his — respectfully — absolutely wild accent. You get the feeling Bretz could make anything absurdly funny with his delivery alone, but the content of Why I Sent My Dad’s Mate a Dick Pic is pretty absurd and funny in itself.
The star-piece of the whole set is likely the Sea Life section, during which Bretz recounts tales of his time as a ranger reading out fish pun-filled scripts to groups of children, and the occasional adult who simply can NOT comprehend clownfish… changing gender? In response to this, the dickish SeaLife manager — voiced with a sublime Ricky Gervais impression by Bretz — half-heartedly decides to rename the clownfish to Marsha (as in, threw the first brick at Stonewall). It’s all played to absolute delight, and the Gervais impression is truly something to hear for yourself: a sort of insight into an alternate universe where The Office never took off and the After Life psychosis never took hold.
There’s also unexpected high-energy pivots into e.g., School of Rock, Stuart Little, which are as out of place as they are well-received. You get the impression Bretz is never trying to play to his audience, which oddly works only to his benefit: it’s doubtful the fifty-year-old couple in the room have ever thought about the ethics of Stuart Little’s adoption, but they’re loving it nonetheless.
Ultimately, Why I Sent My Dad’s Mate a Dick Pic is an exciting insight into a comic undoubtedly on the rise, with talent and charisma to spare.
(You don’t get to see the titular dick pic, BTW)
Why I Sent My Dad’s Mate a Dick Pic is running until 25 August at Hoot 6 at Hoots @ The Apex.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Henry Bretz, provided to The Student as press material.