Luke McGregor: Okay, Wow (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) – comedy review

He’s quick-witted, natural, easy going and self-deprecating. He’s playful and he’s funny. Luke McGregor speaks openly about his autism, his looks, his marriage and his children. After thanking everyone for coming several times, he tells us that he arrived at the theatre late because he feared he had left the iron on … only to find that he had. He references his linen shirt, before gently picking on those in the front row – in the middle of the front row, in particular. That, in turn, leads him to relay a story about an experience he had on another occasion with a person positioned there. The lady happened to be a flat Earther, resulting in a whole routine about gravity and pilots, Pac-Man, the moon landing and NASA.

McGregor talks about a bad experience he had with a date he took to a gig when he started doing stand-up comedy. Some of his material is downright hilarious. He readily, seemingly effortlessly, generates humour and that is the sort of talent I enjoy seeing and hearing. He says it has been eight years since he last did a comedy festival show, before pointing to his health and sleep issues. Then begins a long list of references to his wife, Amy, who was the one who asked him to marry them (they are non-binary, pan sexual and indigenous). There’s a beaut line too about why that made it easy for him to say “yes”. He tells us that being away from Amy to ply his comedic trade isn’t easy, but neither is the awkward phone sex that results. Risque material follows.

He gets onto his two stepchildren – aged 14 and 10 – and his baby, who was born via a C section and left him flummoxed at what to do. There are further insights into his wife, including the fact that he moved to Newcastle to be with her (notwithstanding that the beach and his pale skin aren’t exactly perfect bedfellows). Tesla owners receive a serve, three reasons to love Japan and one of the high points of his set (I mean it), anal hygiene, complete with facts That is not to overlook a revelation about Amy and his stepchildren and a wish for his baby. Thereafter comes an autism experiment (crowd interaction is part of McGregor’s routine). He has Octopus facts at the ready, subsequently highlighting how hard it is to discipline children whose validation one seeks.

His 14-year-old, who like his mum is non-binary, has a unique insight into Amy, while seeking advice about how to handle bullies. After an unfortunate find, the family is now adept at using a sex aid as a microphone. And, being OCD like him, McGregor’s 10-year-old poses some challenging questions. Before he ends, he makes three more points – one serious – and then he nonchalantly exits. McGregor is a charming pro who manages to insert many varied subjects into 50 minutes. There is a lot of patter, stories galore and a unique perspective on life with its vicissitudes. Laughter abounds. In short, he comes across as a good bloke who you would like to meet and have a yarn with. I dare say you would do most of the listening as he regales you with ever more of his experiences. I look forward to a return experience to the world of Luke McGregor, on stage at least.

He is playing at Comedy Theatre until 6th April, 2025.

Alex First

Other reviews you might enjoy:

• Michael Shafar – Lots to Say (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) – standup review
• Dumtectives (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) – theatre review
• Lano & Woodley: Moby Dick (Comedy Theatre) – theatre review