Comedy Festival review: Stephen K Amos turns spotlight on guests in Talk Show

COMEDY FESTIVAL
TALK SHOW ★★★☆
Stephen K Amos
Melbourne Town Hall
April 12 & 19

When Stephen K Amos remarks early on that he can get self-conscious about performing, he is surely joking.

Amos and a flash-mob dance crew bust moves to Beyonce's Crazy in Love for the crowd outside before this breezy chat show opens with the comedian striking model-like poses while flanked by two sparkling drag queens.

This is a secondary show for Amos and while themes from his Welcome to My World (ethnic diversity, racism) re-emerge here, the spotlight is mostly on the guests.

On this first outing, there was a chat with I'm a Celebrity alumnus Joel Creasey, a mini-set from former Raw Comedy finalist Rhys Nicholson – his cleverly-crafted sequence on the reaction to gay men in gym changing rooms a standout – and a performance by The Voice 2014 runner-up Jackson Thomas. European "psychic" Anya (Sydney-based comedian Susie Youssef) added audience interraction, but her flirting-with-randomly-picked-men schtick wore thin. UK-based Canadian Katherine Ryan stood out with her frank observations about motherhood and travelling with a young child.

Amos is well suited to the role of jovial host and keeps a loose, relaxed rein on proceedings..

You won't find edgy comedy here; this is standard variety fare that neither surprises, nor disappoints. A reliable hour of fun and frivolity.