Adelaide Fringe – Felicity Ward

Felicity Ward seems to have dropped off the face of the earth these past couple years. Apart from her mental health documentary, Felicity’s Mental Mission on ABC late last year, we haven’t heard much from the award-winning comedian. According to the woman herself, she’s been ‘volunteering in a little village called London’ to become a better stand-up comedian. But, thankfully, Ward is now back on home soil for a short time only touring her comedy show, The Iceberg for Adelaide’s own Fringe Festival.

Using this outsider’s insight of Australia, Ward storms out of the gate full energy and dynamism commenting on everything from sport to politics to Dutch ovens. As a performer, she’s animated and fearless. Which may seem at odds with her most recent endeavour with ABC about her struggle with anxiety disorder. This, however, lends itself to the theme of the entire show – perception.

This show is seriously funny. Which is an incredible skill when dealing with such grim material as sexual harassment, breast Cancer, asylum seekers and racism. Every story has a serious undercurrent to it. Some jokes have an element of taboo to them. Which, of course, makes them a lot funnier. At the same time though, it is incredibly freeing to be able to laugh at topics that generally cause people to clam up. There’s a fine line in which this type of comedy act can become inappropriate and crass. A line which Felicity toes talentedly.

Ward’s transitions from serious explanations of the show’s themes to comedy were clunky and awkward at times as the tone was hard to follow. However, she’s at her best when she’s ablibbing and communicating with the audience, as she somehow becomes even more physical and excitable. Felicity is also a pro at physical comedy, as she knows how to use her body (and disco pants!) to get a rise out of the audience.

Many people wiped away tears of laughter on multiple occasions and left with a sore mouths from smiling so much – exactly how you want to leave a comedy show. Felicity Ward is definitely worth seeing and has proven to achieve what she set out to do in London.

Be careful though, everything you see may not be as it seems.

Having only a limited season in Australia, check out Felicity Ward’s few remaining shows in the Garden of Unearthly Delights at the Adelaide Fringe Festival up until March 1. Tickets are available from the Fringe website.

Image: Laughing Stock Productions.

We have a free double pass to giveaway to magic/illusion show, Glitches in Reality, on Tuesday, March 3 at 10.00pm. Winner must be able to pick up tickets during business hours from the USASA office at the CityWest Campus.