THOUGHTCRIME - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2009
reviewed in The Age by Peter Munroe, 15/4/09
***1/2

Save me, kind sir, from this stupid, stupid world. Matt Elsbury mercilessly skewers the morons of modern life who conspire to make us dullards.

Television crime shows, vacuous newspaper headlines, people who answer mobile phones in cinemas, Paris Hilton.

Part comedian, part motivational speaker, Elsbury incites his audience to rise up against idiocy.

The highlight of his show is an hilarious sketch on outwitting telemarketers, with the aid of Elvis Presley, Hannibal Lecter and haiku. They're safe targets but no less funny for it. He ad libs well and moves even better for a big man in a tight shirt, shaking his money maker across the stage.

His closing gag, using a mirror, was a tad lame, but I'll forgive such quibbles from someone who makes me feel smarter than I am.

He deserved a bigger audience and a less obscure venue. I laughed, therefore I am.