Australia in a day?
When one listens to Matthew Hardy’s I’m so Australian comic routine, you know he’s the real deal, a true blue Aussie and one with the jokes to prove it. But he’s a lot more than just a joke telling machine, he’s a modern day funny man, a published author and scriptwriter and also one who’s cosmopolitan, a world traveler and a man with a social conscience. That conscience comes into play this upcoming Australian Day when he attempts something no one has ever done before much less a comedian from Melbourne. His Australia In A Day tour will take in six shows in six states in 24 hours. And while you or I will be at home or a party tipping a few cold ones and listening to Triple J’s hottest one hundred, Matthew will be racking up the frequent flyer points making people laugh and helping to raise money for The Make A Wish Foundation. I caught up with Matthew to get the scoop on this crazy stunt.

Who came up with the idea for the six shows - six states concept?
“Me, I’m glad you media people are asking that question so I can claim credit.”
How many beers led to the creation of the idea?
“I don’t know, I can’t recall, I was too hung over. Actually I’ve got this DVD out right now and it’s doing well and I just thought Australia Day was too good of an opportunity to not take advantage of and of course help raise money for a good cause. Unfortunately with my impeccable timing I got the idea a week before Christmas, so with everyone on holiday it was a mad dash to get our shit together but it has worked out all right.”
You’re going to be dragging by that fifth and sixth show.
“Exactly, have you seen my show? Sometimes I’m dragging by my fifth or sixth minute.”
So you’re going to have a limo driver at every stop ready to whisk you off to the airport?
“Hopefully getting into a car with someone that was holding up a cardboard sign with my name misspelled on it.”
What no Concord?
“Yeah I wish but there will be other comics doing their routines before I arrive and after I leave and they are donating their time as am I. The Make A Wish Foundation is a good cause and they are on board for that.”
How did you hook up with the foundation?
“My brother’s kid has had a number of open heart operations and joked he was going to get a zipper installed in his chest from his groin to his throat but he’s only ten and they have looked after him amazingly well.”
They do good work don’t they?
‘Yeah they’re brilliant, he comes back with photos of himself swimming with the dolphins with joy on his face that’s only half of the look of joy on his face as he’s handing you the photo.
On the DVD of your I’m So Australian show it says you drop over one hundred I’m So Australian one-liners, how many of those jokes do you actually have up your sleeve?
“Around about a hundred but I think about fifteen of those are stretching the friendship.”
Once you get on a roll with one-liners, it can really raise the energy level of the crowd.
“Yes that’s true but there’s other stuff in there like songs and different set pieces that have an Australian theme. It mostly came from an idea I had from this time last year when all the major news stories were these ultra Aussie stories. Such as stories about Shane Warne retiring, David Hicks, and the upcoming election, well now that we have a new leader, that looks like a character from South Park, I thought it was time to look back.”
I always thought comedians got away with touching on subjects that were off limits to most other people, what is it about making people laugh that gives you carte blanch with subject matter?
“It’s probably hopefully just when you tell the truth. People can smell it a mile away.”
Do you think that are any subjects that are off limits?
“I don’t know, I prefer not to go too far toward the absolute edge and as yet I’ve not knowingly and deliberately tried to step over it just for attention’s sake. But then again I think if you’re telling it truthfully and the audience can smell it, you can get away with almost anything.  
Who were some of your comic influences when you were cutting your teeth?
“I know for a white suburban boy brought up in a standard 2.4 family, it might sound strange but it was Richard Pryor by a mile. I remember getting his DVD when I was 12 and it opened up a whole new vortex of existence for me. It was strange too because he was telling jokes about getting high and burning himself up while smoking a crack pipe and nothing could have been further from my Richie Cunningham Happy Days life. Nothing could have been further from my existence but I understood exactly what he was talking about and the emotions and thought processes involved in all the tales he was telling.”
Did you ever get into comedians like Sam Kinison and Bill Hicks?
“Yeah definitely but not so much Bill Hicks who slightly leaves me cold and I feel that’s my loss but definitely Sam Kinison. He was suggesting wife beating is understandable under some circumstances, not that I agree with that but his viewpoint was an interesting one on a subject that I though was previously untouchable. But with Bill Hicks I find he leaves me cold even though everyone I know and that I have respect for their opinion loves him. So it makes me think it’s my loss.”
Near the end of Hick’s life he was very bitter and took that out on his audience on a regular basis.
“Yeah he needed to take a chill pill and it’s funny because that kind of humour makes you feel like you need to take a break and go outside and have a smoke and chill out yourself!”
I think he just had the idea if he could make people laugh, the hell with the consequences.
“Yeah, when I thought of this I’m So Australian idea I hesitated for a couple of months because I thought it was too obvious and even if I could make it subversive it would seem on the surface too obvious but I though it was a good idea and in me gut I knew it would work. I also thought any day someone else like radio comedy shows and the like were going to capture the mood of all this ultra Aussie themed stuff and I wanted to beat then to it.”  
Rob Hudson


You can get your chance to tap into how ridgey didgey you really are on Australia Day by catching Matthew at the following gigs nation wide. Laugh yourself stupid and contribute to a good cause at the same time.

Friday 25th January 2008
Perth: Lazy Susans, Upstairs Brisbane Hotel, Crn Brisbane & Beaufort Streets, North Perth
Performance time - 11:00pm – Tickets available at the door

Saturday 26th January 2008
Sydney: Comedy Store, 207/122 Lang Road, Moore Park
Performance time 7.30am – Entry Free

Brisbane: The Sit Down Comedy Club, 186 Given Tce, Paddington
Performance time: 10.15am – Entry Free
  
Adelaide: Rhino Room, Level 1, 13 Frome Street, Adelaide
Performance time: 3.30pm – Entry Free

Melbourne: Comics Lounge, 26 Errol Street, North Melbourne
Performance time: 8.00pm – Tickets available at the door

Hobart: The New Sydney Hotel, 87 Bathurst Street, Hobart
Performance Time: 11.00pm – Entry Free