If being a humblebrag was actually a good thing, then Arielle Conversi could wear that badge with total pride.
Hailing originally from the West Coast of the US, Conversi oozes a sense of charm and engagement that is rarely seen here outside of the "loose Aussie" demographic. In the smaller rooms of the Imperial's stage offerings, Conversi thrives among her audience and gets up close and personal without a microphone (allowing for plenty of hilarious extra gesticulations).
The American comic is able to dissect the good in her life and still manage to find something to be irked by. Whether it's a boyfriend that's moving too fast, a terrifying senior stripper, or just the fact that she isn't sad enough to make jokes, Conversi pulls a cohesive tale of the most recent years of her life into comedic gold.
Conversi's style falls somewhere in between the realms of stream of consciousness and traditional stand-up. As a result there are a few moments wherein her breakneck sprawl becomes hard to follow, and Conversi's pace allows little room for backtracking. Her delivery is unforgiving, but for those who can keep up, it's definitely worth the ride.
Tumbleweedesque is one of the few MICF shows that feels genuinely hopeful throughout the entirety of the performance. Conversi is a damn delight to watch onstage, and for anyone looking for that "one unknown to go see", she is definitely worth the punt.
Arielle Conversi presents Tumbleweedesque till 23 Apr at Imperial Hotel, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
