While a lot of comedy might revolve around hurling insults at your enemies, Perth comedian Jeff Hewitt is looking to throw that dynamic on its head with Jef Hewitt’s Compliment Battle, which heads to Mandurah as part of HubBub.
Compliment Battle is a joyful new show in which the festival’s most amiable comedians attempt to destroy each other with their funniest compliments. It’s a battle of wits, an orgy of goodwill and a bloodbath of brotherly love. It’s a no-hugs-barred verbal boxing match in which nice people do finish first.
Hewitt has been wowing audiences across Australia for the last twelve years. His show Rad Dad Redemption was nominated for the Best Comedy Award at the 2016 Fringe World Festival, which he went on to perform at His Majesty’s Theatre as part of the 2016 Perth Comedy Festival.
“Compliment battle was inspired by a rap battle I saw one night on YouTube, where two rappers sung each other’s praises in the most aggressive and confrontational way possible,” Hewitt said.
“As a long-time fan of comedy roasts and roast battles, I was amazed.
“I had never seen anything like that before, and immediately started thinking about how to stage something similar in a stand-up comedy context.”
Hewitt’s aim has been to take the comedy gold of roasts – like those made famous on MTV – but avoid the “easy trap” of resorting to slurs and insults.
“So much of comedy is based on insults, putdowns and sick burns, so making a point of writing jokes that actually have something nice to say feels like a breath of fresh air,” Hewitt said.
“For me, Compliment Battle offers the best of both worlds: a gladiatorial contest that satisfies people’s primal natures and bloodlust, together with an ethos of kindness and positivity that appeals to our higher selves, or what Abraham Lincoln described as ‘the better angels of our nature’.
“I’m looking forward tp acting as a host and referee whilst comedians duke it out with acclaim right-hooks and flattery left-crosses.
“There will be a different lineup each night, so it will be a showcase of the funniest comedians of the festival... as well as a total lovefest.”
Jeff Hewitt’s Compliment Battle hits Mandurah Performing Arts Centre’s Dance Studio on February 3 and 5 from 9pm.
Tickets and more information available thought manpac.com.au/hubbub or the Box Office on 9550 3900.
