Palais Theatre, St. Kilda
Reviewed on Saturday July 13, 2024
Born in the United States of America, Maria Bamford is a beloved performer, best-selling author, and voiceover artist.
With a career spanning thirty years, she is known for a diverse body of work including television roles on Arrested Development, Bob’s Burgers, Fresh Off The Boat, Human Resources, Portlandia, and Spongebob Squarepants. In 2016 for two seasons, Bamford starred in Lady Dynamite; a sitcom loosely based on her own life.
She is a much sought-after celebrity guest, having appeared on various talk shows hosted by the likes of Stephen Colbert, Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, and our own Rove McManus.
Bamford has also fronted four critically acclaimed specials. These being:
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Local Act (2023),
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Weakness Is The Brand (2020),
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Old Baby (2017), and,
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The Special Special Special (2012).
(My first interaction with Bamford happened fifteen years ago, after stumbling across the series of festive commercials she made for the Target department store chain. Examples of these advertisements may still be found on YouTube.)
Last year her autobiography, “Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest To Belong Anywhere” became a New York Times Bestseller.
Hot on the heels of this tell-all publication, Bamford is the accidental poster child for mental health awareness, its management, and recovery. As a springboard from this source material, she is spreading the word about her journey and taking to the road yet again.
Known for an irreverent stream-of-consciousness style, Bamford’s latest presentation highlights her unique thought process combined with stellar vocal gymnastics. Through years of international spots both live and on the small screen, the performer has amassed countless fans and followers around the world.
This is her fifth tour of Australia (having previously come here in 2004, 2005, 2011, and 2019). Bamford’s whirlwind tour down under wraps up in Perth on Tuesday before continuing through selected North American cities for the remainder of 2024.
On Saturday evening, her hour-long set covered a wide range of personal stories and hot-button topics like:
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Bombing at charity benefits
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Childhood addictions
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Deconstructing the children’s book, Busy Town, by Richard Scary
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Definitions of a dirty ice cream store
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Fudging the truth
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Giving up smoking
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Growing up in a religious household
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Grub Hub versus hotel room service
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Her current philosophy
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Living in a hippy commune and not pulling your weight
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Making fun of things that are important to you
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Making weakness a strength
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Personal Affirmations
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Special names for male and female genitalia
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The definition of team playing
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The reality of death in the movies versus seeing it in person
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The trauma of filling in a tax return
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Twelve-Step Programs and comparing them to fight clubs
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Virtue signalling
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Why buying scented candles is a good idea
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Why Hertz Rent A Car is better than telephoning a suicide prevention hotline
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Why hospitals are like comedy clubs
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Why podcasts are the new health care, and,
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Worrying if she will become her mother.
The list goes on.
Early in the night, Bamford interacted with a very chatty audience member in the front row who shared her thoughts on what it was like to work as a landscape gardener. Whether this person was a plant or not (no pun intended), provided a small glimpse into what off-the-wall content lay ahead.
Overall, Bamford’s physically animated yet dry delivery reminds me of other veteran entertainers such as George Carlin, Jim Carrey, Margaret Cho, Andy Kaufman, Leanne Morgan, Richard Pryor, Judy Tenuta, Lily Tomlin, and the legendary Robin Williams. Like these artists, her rare ability to segue from one theme or story to the next is indeed impressive.
The Palais is a curious choice for Maria’s specific house style. While there was a lot of love in the room, finer details of the act such as her contorted facial expressions are completely lost at the back of this vast space.
(Thirteen years ago, when Bamford visited for the city’s international comedy festival, I saw her perform in one of the Melbourne Town Hall’s more intimate banquet rooms. Being up close and personal made for a completely different outcome.)
That being said, it should be noted hardcore fans in attendance on Saturday night hung on her every word and gesture.
Bamford’s show reminded me of when Weird Al Yankovic performed at the very same venue eighteen months ago. Known for his musical parodies of famous artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Queen, Yankovic eschewed these hits in favour of more esoteric material instead.
For newcomers wanting to immerse themselves into Bamford’s unique stage presence, I would recommend a YouTube binge, watching Lady Dynamite, and reading her autobiography beforehand.
Bamford’s stylistic evolution is built less around standard joke-telling associated with traditional stand-up comedy, and more about the pathway. This hour-long set is an experience specifically designed for her many devotees first and foremost.