Comedy queen looks to conquer cabaret

Her portfolio features the wildly successful Full Frontal and Beauty and the Beast, making Julia Morris one of Australia’s most recognised female comedians.

With a baby on the way and a new comic direction in mind, Morris’s international stand-up act is in its last touring days. Don’t miss the queen of laughter who is performing this weekend at Club Swans in Potts Point.

Following eight wonderfully successful years in the UK, Australia’s first lady of comedy has strapped on her Manolo Blahniks and stepped straight back into Aussie hearts, winning the third series of It Takes Two on Channel Seven. Nearly 1.5 million Australians tuned in and welcomed their prodigal daughter home with open arms.

Morris has travelled widely in the past decade. Her act, instead of paying out on celebrities who have become passe, revolves around the comedian’s personal experiences.

My show reflects exactly what’s been happening in my life from all around the world. Moments when I should have kept my mouth shut and moments when I did, Morris told the Sydney Star Observer.

I don’t have time to talk about celebrities, politicians, public figures -¦ I’m all of them and more. I focus on me [laughter]. The only comedian who does celebrity well is Kathy Griffin -¦ she is the only woman who can do it with style and flair.

Morris has induced hordes of laughter in venues nationally with her comedic partner in crime Jackie Loeb.

We both aim to make our audience crack up [in laughter] beyond humanly possible. Sexual endorphins are released, just as good as a synthetic ecstasy pill, she said.

Jackie is great. The greatest tragedy is that we aren’t on stage together, but we feed off each other’s humour so well.

After this tour Morris will be leaving stand-up behind, but not comedy.

I want to look at cabaret in the future, she said. David Campbell would be amazing to work with. We can bring back the stylish moves of yesteryear -¦ something like a Bette Midler style show.

The super-sexy comedy diva’s stand-up show featured at the galas of both the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney’s Cracker Comedy Festival. Her solo shows in both festivals were sell-outs.

See Julia Morris on Saturday 21 June, 8.30pm, at Club Swans, Potts Point. Tickets are $32. For more information visit www.juliamorris.co.uk or www.star100.com.au.