Review: Pam Ann - Around the World

Pam Ann packs them in. The alter ego of Australian stand up Caroline Reid has got Jackie Collins eyes and is filthily funny to boot. In fact, she might have stepped straight out of one of the younger Collins sister’s novels – a racy discothèque tramp when grounded who willingly enters a special kind of hell that is dealing with the public at 12,000 feet.

Around the World is her new show and I have to say going into the State Theatre last Friday night I was a Pam Ann virgin. That said I have dear friends who are flight attendants so I’ve heard the horror stories about customers with 1,000,000 frequent miles and zero social graces. Pam is their revenge and also their slayer. In fact, no one is spared in this show.

Pam knows her audience and they just love her. She once likened herself to Grindr (“My show is just really where the guys go to meet”). Of course, there are plenty of cabin crew in the house and they can’t seem to get enough of being picked on and hearing rival airlines being ripped to shreds. There were moments of gold when Pam bantered with fans – she is very sharp - but some of the gags seemed dated, in particular the racist stereotypes, and the show doesn’t need it because this woman is actually a true comic talent.

Pam looks fabulous in her Tunis blue hostie uniform and she has a gorgeous face but at one point I wanted to yell out, “Find your goddamn light!” And if she was constantly in shadow, her microphone was turned up to full volume. I guess that’s part of the schtick but she’s not having to talk over people in a gay bar these days so it just feels like you’re being screamed at the entire time.

The evening wound up with Pam singing along to Patsy Gallant’s ‘From New York to LA’. That I knew all the words to this 70s disco hit was simply embarrassing.

Reid lives overseas these days and it might be another two years before she tours again so, if you’re in Melbourne this weekend, get along and see her before she flies out.

Pam Ann: Around the World, Sydney season finished. Melbourne, August 17-19, Athenaeum Theatre. Bookings: www.premier.ticketek.com.au