Zach & Viggo – Thunderflop

Zach & Viggo may not get another invitation to perform at the Comedy Festival after this. According to them, they’ve racked up a couple dozen OHS complaints since starting in Melbourne. Pair that with a joke reportedly costing just under a grand, and the reasons not to return begin to pile up quickly. So, is it worth seeing them before they’re banished from MICF for good? The short answer: definitely.

Between the duo’s unsurpassed energy and a clear love for what they do, Zach Zucker and Viggo Venn have their audience involved from the outset. In some cases, this is quite literal, as tonight’s show saw a particularly enthusiastic punter dominate the show as a middle-aged male princess. Usually, acts aren’t exactly keen on audience members getting bigger laughs than themselves, but Venn and Zucker are so enthralled by a reciprocating crowd that they let the royal audience member completely own the stage. Howling with laughter along with everyone else, the pair witness their own insanity, wondering how this lunacy snuck into the festival. They know, too, when to pull the plug on participation, shutting down those who bring the night to a standstill and winning over almost everyone who isn’t initially on board (or following those who aren’t into the halls as they walk out).

Thunderflop may be one of the stupidest, most inane shows going at MICF this year, but that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable. Zucker and Venn are nothing beyond a couple of clowns trying to crack each other up and derail the show, pushing further beyond the insanity already established. There’s no subtext or hidden agenda behind the madness, just a load of pointless sketches from a couple of guys having fun on stage. It’s ferociously dumb and nonsensical, but damn near impossible not to like. Fair warning, though, the first few rows will get wet.