These two comedians, Gearard McGeown and Cait Johnson, have apparently worked together quite a lot over the last few years, but the contrast between their styles almost couldn't be more pronounced.
McGeown seems a little pissed off with his life as a dirt-poor 'unskilled labourer', especially since he is university educated, but he delivers his gags with tongue planted firmly in cheek and with such deadpan dryness it pulls you in and doesn't let go. He is somewhat of a master of the self-piss-take and appears to enjoy reverse-heckling the audience. Especially the stragglers conspicuously arriving late to the intimate room at Tasma Terrace.
Then, in a night and day turnaround, on bounces the diminutive Cait Johnson. She even mocks her own size, or lack thereof ("here's me, with the upper body strength of a lead pencil"). Her lines are more thoughtful, smart, but also unapologetically nerdy, as she moves from topic to disparate topic with a smooth and easy flow. In fact, there is an endearing contrast between her general demeanour, which is kind of nervous, and the steady confidence of her delivery, as she also takes the mickey out of her own peculiarities.
Neither comic stoops to relying on sick or sexual humour for their laughs, which is great to see. Aside from that, is there a gulf between them, stylistically? Yes. Does is still work a treat? Abso-bloody-lutely. While possibly not what you would deem to be side-splittingly funny, these two put on slick, tasteful, entertaining sets.
Gearard McGeown & Cait Johnson present Mucho Relaxo Melbo till 22 Apr at Tasma Terrace, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
