Cal Wilson – The Great Intender

Cal Wilson’s The Great Intender is about procrastination. In truth, many comedy festival shows end up involving the subject – comedians aren’t renowned for their work ethic – but Wilson spends the full hour getting down to business about her inability to get down to business. 

 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2011 Presented by: Dirty Work ComedyVenue: Victoria Hotel Friday, 1 April, 2011 Cal Wilson’s The Great Intender is about procrastination. In truth, many comedy festival shows end up involving the subject – comedians aren’t renowned for their work ethic – but Wilson spends the full hour getting down to business about her inability to get down to business. She wants to know how her slackness compares with others, which involves talking to the audience about their experiences and running a leader-board to see who wins in the laziness stakes.
The result is hilarious and utterly charming. A large proportion of the show involves audience participation, as Wilson brings out stories from those present, but it always remains unthreatening and warm. There’s a sense we’re all in this together, as people tell of the gifts they still haven’t given, the thank you cards written but not sent or the crochet that remains unfinished 20 years later. 
Her improvisation skills are impressive, finding specific jokes around the audience input and bringing clever callbacks to comments made earlier in the show. Considering this material is as new to her as it is to us it’s astounding she can keep the show so focused.
It was a little surprising to see a performer of Cal Wilson’s standing in such a small room, but the 60-seater lends The Great Intender an intimacy that adds to the success of the show (it was also surprising to discover Wilson is 40 – I’d always assumed she was at least a decade younger).
If you’re the sort of person who often puts off till tomorrow what could be done today you’ll find a lot to enjoy in The Great Intender. It may even make you feel better about yourself, and it’s not every show that can offer that.

Until 23 Aprilwww.comedyfestival.com.au