Josh Thomas: Everything Ever
Live Review

This is an adroit compilation of stand-up about a year in Josh Thomas’s increasingly high-profile life, including his relationship, plans for his sister's wedding and the full juicy story about his disastrous evening with wannabe celeb Ruby Rose, which made the papers.

The title Everything Ever and its equally vague blurb suggests they were invented for the festival application form long before Thomas knew what the show was going to be about. Certainly there is no great theme to be found in his tales, but it doesn’t turn out to be a problem. It is certainly not a vague performance; however he might come across on TV.

This is another very personal, simple storytelling show from Thomas, and I'm impressed at how relaxed and candid he is. After coming out last year and because he’s in the public eye, he rightly assumes we all know him, and like a friend we haven't seen for a while he goes straight into material about his new relationship.

Things occasionally get a bit R-rated, but his delivery is so very matter-of-fact and low-key, it lowers the audience's discomfort and adds to the humour. The stories about his family are also fairly eye-opening and their shared sick sense of humour suggests they're not as disconnected as he seems to feel.

He only really gets riled up in relating the Ruby Rose story, which is an interesting insight to the sadder parts of showbusiness, and an obviously a liberating experience for Thomas, who we've learned through his anecdotes, is almost crippled by the need to be ever polite.

The one obvious thing he steers clear of is his break-up from comic Tom Ballard, especially since their relationship was the subject of last year's show. During the enjoyable Q&A at the end when the inevitable question is asked, Josh seems bashful for the first time, but plugs his ex’s festival show, which contains all the details.

For someone who comes across as the dumb and hyperactive representative of Generation Y on TV, it is a pleasure to find out he is a perceptive, measured and confident comedian.

Reviewed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, April 2011