Breaking the Fifth Wall: Lou Wall – MICF (2025)

Presented by A Token Event

Only Lou Wall can make lying directly to your face laugh out loud hilarious, and still make you walk away thinking about life.

Reviewed by Matthaios Hortomaris
Comedy Republic – 231 Bourke S, Melbourne
Until April 20th (no shows on Monday 31st March or 7th April).
Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/breaking-the-5th-wall/

Type: Stand Up, Multimedia, Musical Comedy
If you liked: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Fleabag, Crazy Ex Girlfriend

5 STARS

Lou Wall’s latest show Breaking the Fifth Wall is part self depreciation, part gas lighting, part sequel to their previous show Bisexual’s Lament, and a whole bunch of lunacy. Don’t be worried about this show being described as a sequel, as it is a sequel in the best way possible. Everything you need to know about their previous installment is recapped in this show, and built upon in an oh so satisfying way – and for those of you familiar, yes it is about Facebook Marketplace. 

There are a lot of genuine surprises in the show, so it’s best to go in blind on the actual content. The narrative of Breaking the Fifth Wall explores Wall’s own self discovery through their experiences as an entertainer, and the pressures that come with creating new material. Wall’s ability to combine all this with a clever commentary on culture is exquisite.

The title itself has multiple layers to it, between Wall’s surname, to the barrier between audience and performer that traditionally exists. From the beginning of the show, Wall pulls back the curtain and invites the audience to take a peak at what is involved in putting together a show.

With this level of introspection and meta analysis, it would be easy for the performance to feel like a chore and come across as a lecture. On the contrary, Wall fuels the show with high octane charm and laugh after laugh, that it’s only after the show ends that you walk away thinking about the commentary of it all. If Inception was a silly hour of comedy, this is what it would look like, making you leave the venue questioning what is real.

Book tickets to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025 here.