Simon Taylor: Spectacular-ish (MICF)

It's been just about a year since Simon Taylor took off to the States to pursue his comedy abroad, and while it would be incredibly easy to discover and hone a new style in that time, Taylor has remained as captivating and glossy as ever.

Spectacular-ish is Taylor's seventh offering to MICF, and unlike some of the comic's previous offerings, this one actually tackles some pretty big issues. Namely, the show focuses on the nature of masculinity in the 21st century, Gen Y, look-at-me world - one that Taylor knows extremely well. With a self-confessed penchant for the flamboyant, Taylor mixes traditional stand-up, music, magic and his own brilliant brand of storytelling to weave together a cohesive hour of comedy.

Taylor is a keenly observant comedian and finds the funny of everyday life with total ease, he tackles toxic masculinity with poise and hilarity, and while some may see particular references as leaning heavily on stereotypes, his stories and tales are progressive, forward-thinking and just plain old funny.

Spectacular-ish is another fantastic performance from Taylor. Composed and clearly well-rehearsed, he never misses his mark or flounders over his own words. It's quite a wonder, even for the several years he's been here at MICF, that Taylor isn't yet playing the big rooms.

Simon Taylor presents Spectacular-ish, til 23 Apr at Trades Hall, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.