No Flirting

Stand-up comedian Alex Ward returns to her hometown of Brisbane, touring an hour-long festival show No Flirting. The performance opens very naturally. Alex appears comfortable and in control. She puts the crowd at ease and deals with latecomers without belittling them as many comics feel the need to do. She’s a very warm and welcoming performer. Her style is not aggressive or confrontational.

The stories we’re treated to include a harrowing telling of her flight to Brisbane from her new home, Melbourne. We get super cute stories about her dog including pictures of the good boy. She also reveals very personal insights into her jealous nature, presenting some self-deprecating humour without allowing it to get too depressing. Some of the show is presented in a multimedia style with slides and audio, marking it apart from the usual stand-up show.  

Themes include love, fidelity and trust, what it takes to call yourself a dog ‘mum’, Alex’s relationship with her own mum and her own inability to flirt. It’s all very relatable material that often has the crowd in stitches.

Aside from a slight dip in energy and more set ups than punchlines around the ¾ mark, there are plenty of good gags. She also could work the show title into the material a little more. That said, often with these festival shows, comics are asked to provide a show name well before it’s written, so some leeway should be given regarding theme.

Technically the performance is very good. She has great eye contact with the crowd. There’s a lot of fun banter with the crowd, but she’s never mean-spirited. She works well within the setting, even working in some jokes about the mayor when the Brisbane City Hall clock chimes during the show. She has excellent mic skills and decent technical ability with the multimedia elements.

This is a fun, well-paced show that holds appeal for a wide range of demographics. It’s ultimately uplifting and a good night out.

Kiesten McCauley