References

• Frocking Hilarious offers seriously funny night at the Athenaeum in aid of women in need IT MUST be funny being a woman. Sometimes. Other times, maybe not so much. One thing’s for sure, women are funny. If in doubt, check out the line-up for an all-female comedy extravaganza taking place at the Athenaeum on Wednesday night. After being staged during the Sydney Comedy Festival for the past three years to much acclaim, this is Melbourne’s first Frocking Hilarious. All of the proceeds go to ActionAid, an international development agency that supports women in more than 40 countries during those not-so-funny times when they’re suffering extreme poverty, their rights are being deprived or they’re particularly vulnerable, such as in the aftermath of natural disasters. Judith Lucy, Kitty Flanagan and Celia Pacquola are some of the better known names on a stellar bill that also features excellent up-and-coming talent like Laura Davis and Demi Lardner. Lucy, an ActionAid ambassador, is in superb touch judging by a recent headline appearance at Local Laughs in St Kilda, while rising TV star Pacquola is clearly refusing to rest on the many laurels being flung her way, regularly dropping in on local rooms to hone new material. Others due to perform in good form include Hannah Gadsby and Tegan Higginbotham. Patrick Horan Herald Sun