Josh Cake is NOT a scam. And he is winning.
In this cabaret slash comedy, Josh Cake will have you eating out of his hand as you see the non-existent mountains and feel the non-existent wind.
And after what happens next, he’ll have you laughing out loud AND hooked.
Josh starts with setting up the rules for the show: you can take photos, but heckling is not welcome. As he explains, you’ve paid for him (Josh welcomes any pronoun) to make you laugh for an hour. Heckling him causes delays and means he will run overtime – causing the next show to run late, like a set of dominoes.
I think there’s more going on here. By setting up the rules for the show, Josh is creating a safe space for him to share his comedy. Comedy always walks a tightrope between what’s appropriate and what’s not.
You only need a list of the content warnings on the show’s event page to get a sense of the topics Josh will confront: violence, emotional abuse, domestic violence, violence against women, misogyny, sexual references, war, mental health, gender dysphoria.
The title refers to the way Josh has privileges by virtue of his birth. Should we force him to give up his privileges – as a man, as an Australian, and so on – just so he can identify disempowered marginalised communities?
Through his stand-up routine and his songs, I laughed and laughed. Then laughed some more. Josh is engaging, almost mesmerising in how he interacted with the audience and made sure everyone had a good time.
Buy tickets for Josh’s show. He’s not a scam because he delivers exactly what he promises (an hour’s entertainment). And he’s a winner because he’s a talented musician, strikingly handsome, and absurdly funny.
Gender is a Scam and I am Winning
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Corner Store, Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton
Performance: Wednesday 18 October 2023
Season continues to 22 October 2023
Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
For more information, visit: www.joshcake.com for details.
Image: Josh Cake (sourced)
Review: Daniel G. Taylor