When reviewing Lawrence Mooney’s last year’s triumphant hit, Pigeonhole, I called him “Australia’s Greatest Comedian”. A big call on my part and a title I was interested to see if he kept with his Fringe offering this year, Dead Set Country. Mooney actually surpassed himself, but I can’t think of a higher accolade than ‘greatest’ – if there is one, then that’s what he is!

Dead Set Country is dead set hilarious and starts where Pigeonhole left off – the Mooney family living in Bowral. But, in this year’s offering, they have moved to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales to the country town of Penrose and on to a 30 acre farm. Think of Jeremy Clarkson and his farm antics, but ten times funnier. We meet one of the ‘celebrities’ of Penrose, hear about a Father’s Day luncheon that doesn’t bode well for Mr Mooney, his love for his new ride on mower, electric fences, why ‘country style’ sausages may be misnamed (one of the best lines ever!), soft hands, massage parlours, maybe a few other surprises and perhaps (if you are lucky) a visit from The Front Bar’s Jean le Camenbert.

I say maybe and perhaps because they appeared in the opening night show as digressions and interactions with that particular audience and may or may not ever appear in the show again. Mooney is so adept at working with an audience that it is hard to tell the set material from his well delivered ad libs. Just don’t get him onto whipper snippers, pubic hair or ardent feminists lol.

Mooney is an intellectual comic genius who could certainly give master classes in what makes for excellent stand-up and beautifully told storytelling. 

If you are a fan, you certainly won’t be disappointed. If you are seeing him for the first time, I can assure you that you will be hoping Mooney will be returning next Fringe.

Dead Set Country is a dead set bewdy!!