Neal Portenza: P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A (MICF)

MICF is a chance to gamble on the unknown and roll with the punches of an all-encompassing comedic spectrum. Unknown names are up with the famous and infamous, traditional joke-tellers are paralleled with the obscure and obscene, and Neal Portenza stands defiantly on his own in the middle of East Jesus God Knows.

The Frankenstein love child of Josh Ladgrove, Portenza takes no prisoners and is totally relentless when it comes to messing with his audience. The back row is just as fair a game as the front, and no one is safe from the all-seeing eyes of the hairy one.

Fans of the likes of Tim And Eric or Sam Simmons will come out of P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A with multiple laugh-induced hernias, for which Ladgrove will never apologise. The enthusiastic and welcoming of the Portenza style won't stop laughing for the entire show, while those less inclined will most likely be too terrified to leave. So technically it's a win-win for the comic.

With and endless array of weird props and even weirder asides, the Portenza experience is not one that allows room to breathe. At a few too many times, Ladgrove intentionally breaks character and the gag becomes stale, and many bits go beyond funny, become funny again, and then go beyond that.

Ladgrove proclaims P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A to still technically be a work in progress, and while parts of the show miraculously and hilariously come together at the last minute, there are a number of points that unfortunately miss the mark. Nonetheless, Ladgrove proves that Portenza will always have gas in the tank, and can find plenty of fun among the bizarre.

Josh Ladgrove (aka Neal Portenza) presents P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A till 23 Apr at Melbourne Town Hall, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.