Sydney Reviews

Josh Thomas’ wry, observational humour had his audience squirming as well as laughing out loud. However, his current show Everything Ever overpromised a tad especially as it engaged so little with current social issues. It had the feel of a show light on new material.

At 24 years of age, Josh should not be expected to have the broader perspective of his older contemporaries but his forays into clumsy sexual encounters and childhood memories felt more suited to a younger Josh. He admitted to being unwell at this performance but his likeability and his, at times, excruciating honesty were always on show. He explored some of the realities of being gay in today’s world but stopped short of framing them in a wider social context, which could have produced the laughs as well as the poignancy.

His family was not spared and these anecdotes were beautifully tender as well as funny as he showed that tragedy and heartache can be eased with a liberal dash of black humour. He revisited his very public spat with Ruby Rose, “Why do we know her name. She’s done what?” but that was played out in the Twittersphere and in the press months ago and there didn’t appear to be a new angle. Getting bogged in a field with his boyfriend was mildly amusing but not worthy of the closing gag in a performance that promised so much more.

Josh has been spectacularly successful as a young comedian, partly on the back of the television show Talkin’ Bout Your Generation. This must test the mettle of a performer who has relied on awkwardness as his point of difference. He may well be a victim of his own popularity and this new, older, more successful Josh might need to dig a little deeper for the money laughs.


A Token Event
Everything Ever
Josh Thomas

Venue: Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Dates: 10 – 13 August, 2011
Tickets: $34.90 – $39.90
Bookings: (02) 9250 1999