The Ten Best Things to See at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2014

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of those truly democratic moments in our city's cultural calendar. While the Melbourne Festival always seems a little high-end, and Melbourne Music Week is just a bit too hip, MICF is a place for all — from bogans watching Dave Hughes to hipsters hanging out at the Festival Club waiting to catch the latest show you totally haven't even heard about yet.

This year's lineup is a strange one. Big international names have been replaced by a cast of familiar regulars and there's a much larger focus on local talent. This is a welcome move for an industry that doesn't get much love over the rest of the year, but a devastating blow for those of us who are still waiting for the likes of Louis CK to come down under. Regardless, here are our picks of the litter. From the most innovative internationals to the stuff that downright defies classification.

The Internationals

David O'Doherty

If you're not already in love with this guy, there may in fact be something wrong with you. This whimsical Irishman has been a fixture at MICF for the better part of the past decade, and this year finds himself as one of the most well-known names at the festival. His new show David O'Doherty Will Try To Fix Everything certainly sets the bar high for a man whose subject matter tends toward Guitar Hero, celebrities, and that sinking feeling you get when you send a text message to the person the text is about, but we still have faith in him. For a refresher course, check out the classics including 'FAQ for the DOD', 'My Beefs' and — in the interest of full disclosure — that time I fangirled all over him at last year's festival.

David O'Doherty Will Try to Fix Everything, The Forum, April 27 - May 20, $28.50 - $39.

Paul Foot

You wouldn't think a comedian who bases his act around shire horses, cheese, and the etiquette of eating cake would find a big audience in Australia. But Paul Foot, one of Britain's quirkiest, and most loyally followed comedians, is on his way to MICF for his fourth consecutive year. Even if you haven't caught one of his shows before, you may have seen him on Never Mind the Buzzcocks — the quiet man in a futuristic space jacket out-weirding Noel Fielding of all people. Check out our interview with him to learn more.

Words, The Hi-Fi, March 27 - April 20, $26.50- $35.50.

Adrienne Truscott

It's a longstanding qualm some people have with female comedians that they're always talking about their genitalia. I imagine those people would not enjoy this show. In her first time to the country, US comedian Adrienne Truscott is quite literally bearing all in a one-woman show about rape culture. Dressed only from the waist up, Truscott is taking aim at the likes of Daniel Tosh and his controversial comments of last year, and is dragging the art of the 'rape joke' to breaking point. After five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe, this is no doubt going to be one the most-talked about shows of the festival (for better or worse).

Asking For It: A One-Lady Rape About Comedy Starring her Pussy and Little Else!, Portland Hotel, March 27 - April 20, $26 - $35.

The Aussie success stories

Sam Simmons

Most of us will be familiar with Sam Simmons' dulcet tones from his recurring work on Triple J — think Shitty Trivia and that time he took over the radio station for 24 hours and finished the shift by getting a tattoo of a goat on his behind. If you're not familiar with him, that small description pretty much sums it up. We're not sure whether his comedy is incredibly simple, or just incredible. And, after an appearance on Conan late last year, and a string of five-star reviews from every respected newspaper in both Australia and the UK, we're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Death of a Sails-Man, The Famous Spiegeltent, March 27 - April 20, $24 - $32.

Celia Pacquola

Celia Pacquola is the best kind of comedian — the kind you can imagine being your best friend. She's neurotic but confident, a little awkward, and she likes to laugh at other people's small misfortunes. Basically, she's Australia's Jennifer Lawrence. After the early days of RAW Comedy and guest spots on Rove, Pacquola has since moved to the UK and become a regular on shows like the Buzzcocks and Russell Howard's Good News. Thankfully she still brings her work back home, so I may have another shot at befriending her.

Let Me Know How It All Works Out, Melbourne Town Hall (Powder Room), March 27 - April 20, $25 - $30.

The Newcomers

Michael Hing

This will be Michael Hing's third year at MICF, but it was last year's show, Occupy White People, that really got him some attention. Using relaxed and relatable storytelling instead of more aggressive tactics, Hing's comedy hinged on a shared disbelief of people's ignorance or stupidity. This year, he'll be taking aim at himself. Taking to the classic comic's default setting of self-deprecation, he'll be analysing the difficulties of lesson-learning at age 28.

Bildungsroman at 28, The Forum (Pizza Room), March 27 - April 20, $15 - $25.

Genevieve Fricker

Sydney comedian Genevieve Fricker is one of those young dynamos who are easy to hate. She got into NIDA but decided she'd rather drop out and do comedy, she was a finalist in RAW, she's done a TEDxYouth talk, written a column for the Sydney Morning Herald, and been named as one of Time Out's '30 Under 30'. She's been busy. And, although her 2013 show Party Pooper was generally well-regarded at last year's MICF, she's still not a well-known name for us Melbournians. I have no idea why though — musical whimsy and dark humour are totally our thing.

The Pineapple, The Duke of Wellington Hotel, March 27 - April 20, $10 - $20.

James Acaster

Okay, so James Acaster is obviously an international act, but he is a newcomer to Australia. Though relatively unknown to Aussies, Acaster has been nominated for the top award at the Edinburgh Fringe for the past couple of years and been touted as "one of the sharpest comic minds to have emerged in recent years" by The Guardian. He may not be the boldest comedian out there, but he is like a funny, nerdy version of Hugh Grant, so you should probably give him a chance.

Lawnmower, Melbourne Town Hall (Cloak Room), March 27 - April 20, $25.50 - $33.

The Strange

Wolf Creek the Musical

If Wolf Creek 2 had taken a bit of advice from these young comedians it probably would have done a whole lot better. Not for the sensitive or politically correct, this low-budget re-make of the terrifying 2005 thriller has been a huge hit in its earlier runs at both the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and I'm sure the crowds at MICF will be no less receptive. This musical, written by notable newcomers Demi Lardner and James McCann, is for anyone who sometimes cheers for the bad guy and laughs when the naive young tourist invariably trips over. No one's judging you here.

Trades Hall Old Council Chambers, March 27 - April 20, $15 - $22.

When We Were Idiots: A Comedy Walking Tour

The greatest thing about MICF is that it takes over the city. Comedians are in your favourite bars, they're walking around the streets, they're getting all up in your personal space with handmade flyers. But this piece takes it to the extreme. After donning a high-vis vest and losing a few of your inhibitions, you'll be transported to the year 2114 and led around the CBD by your host, Xavier the Penguin. Not only will you see the mistakes made by those idiots in 2014, you'll discover a wealth of well-kept secrets about your city and get the much sought after opportunity to yell at strangers in the name of art.

Meet at Burke and Wills Statue in City Square, March 28 - April 20, $10 - $20.

Check out the MICF website for a full program and keep an eye on Concrete Playground for more coverage in the coming weeks.