Arj Barker has been performing stand-up comedy for over 30 years. He even mentioned during his show Power Hour that he’s been attending the Adelaide Fringe Festival for at least 20 of those years. In that time, he’s watched the Adelaide Fringe grow from a couple of tents and a picnic table to the fun and fabulous place we are entertained by today. So, what do you get when Arj grabs some of his favourite jokes from the past and sprinkles them with new material? One pretty darn hilarious show, that’s what!

A Tuesday night 7 pm low-energy crowd would be tough for any comedian! Not only was Arj doing a show with a majority ‘after-work’ audience, but the Spiegeltent (where he’s performing) has windows all around it, so the daylight shines through, giving the feeling that you’re at a business function more than a comedy show. But through all this Arj made it work. In the joke-making game for over 30 years, he can make fun of any challenging obstacles in his comedic way and still perform the show he set out to do. From his issues with snakes to his unusual, de-aging make-up routine, Arj had the crowds in fits of laughter throughout his solid one-hour routine. Not only is his delivery superb but I always seem to get caught out with his material. As Arj stands there commanding the stage he’ll speak quietly delivering a serious, almost poignant, message, then BAM, he’ll knock you down with a clever punchline that you don’t see coming. I keep falling for his verbal comedic traps but always love the end result.  Arj Barker: Power Hour is a demonstration of a man who has perfected his craft over 30 years and has not lost his comedic touch in that time. He’ll probably die doing what he loves… but you’ll need to watch the show to find out what that means!

FOUR AND A HALF STARS ****