Ben Russell, Amy Ruffle, Lena Moon, Alistair Baldwin with Tiana Hogben & Kyran Nicholson
Something Good is something particularly great – a comedy smorgasbord not to be missed!
Reviewed by Annika Loci
Comedy Republic, Bourke Street
19th April, 2025
Tickets: https://www.comedyrepublic.com.au/event/38:174/
4.5 STARS
Type: Stand Up, Observational
If You Liked: A Group Of People Do An Improv Show (2025), Brown Women Comedy (2025) Comedy Zone (2025)
Showcasing some of Australia’s best in improv and stand-up artists, the Comedy Republic has hosted many household comedy names, from Adam Hills to Michelle Brasier. Something Good is long form improvisation at it’s finest with alternating cast members each night, as well as featuring a surprise special guest. Topics to improvise around are based off audience suggestions ensuring you’re watching a completely unique (and always hilariously chaotic) performance. During the week, at Comedy Republic, you’ll see anything from brand new comedians, to some of Australia’s best trying out new material; Improv and sketch comedy; and their signature event Main Stage with regular sold-out crowds for some of the world’s best comedians. Something Good is Comedy Republic’s highly successful improv and sketch comedy show, which is particularly popular during the festival with sold out performances even at 4.30pm on a Saturday! The extremely talented lineup includes cast and crew from Channel Ten’s “Thank God You’re Here” and is the best improv sketch show on offer in the comedy arena.
Hosted by Ben Russell and Amy Ruffle, with core performers Lena Moon and Alistair Baldwin, our show’s line also included Tiana Hogben and Kyran Nicholson from the extended ensemble. Host Amy Ruffle invites the audience to volunteer a random topic – ours first topic was “moving house”. After a bit of an interview style chat with their special guest, and using whatever information comes out of that discussion, the team go to work creating different scenes as the audience enjoy the hilarity and comedy that ensues – from the mundane to the ridiculous.
We were treated to one of Australians best known comedians who began his life doing stand up and improv and then moved into TV comedy. Peter Rowsthorn is best known for his role as the long-suffering husband Brett from the beloved Kath and Kim series. The moving houses topic focused mostly on moving back-n-forth from Melbourne to Perth (I cant believe the train goes all the way to Perth!), weird housemates and strange living situations.
The lineup’s talent and skills were in full swing when the topic “4D printing” was volunteered. Although asked to explain further, the audience member essentially handballed it up to the cast to work out what on earth 4D printing might be, with some extraordinary funny, very clever and quick-witted interpretations from everyone.
It was great to see Rowsthorn get up and engage his sketch comedy roots and watch this amazing team able to bring all these random topics full circle. This expert cast had the audience totally engaged for the entire 60 minutes, knowing exactly when a joke or scene needed to move on or could be played on further.
I haven’t enjoyed live improv/sketch comedy this much in a long time, being in fits of laughter the entire time. While this performance was a part of the 2025 MICF, Something Good runs Improv Wednesdays, every Wednesday night at the Comedy Republic through to the end of June. So if you need a good mid-week laugh, you can check it out without having to wait for next year’s festival!
