Williamstown comedian Xavier Toby will bring his show ‘White Trash’ to the Melbourne Fringe Festival. 87564 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By ALESHA CAPONE
PENGUIN puns and jet-ski jokes feature in the latest show from Williamstown comedian Xavier Tody.
Mr Toby’s show ‘White Trash’ will be on at the Lithuanian Club in North Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival from 6 to 13 October.
In addition to witticisms about penguins the show will explore the more serious subject of racism.
“I am worried about offending people, but I certainly don’t want anyone to stay away, and it’s not my intention to be at all racist,” Mr Tody said.
“The point of the show is to get into some uncomfortable territory to analyse exactly what is racist and what’s not, because I think there’s a lot of confusion about what racism actually is.”
“Even mentioning race on stage, I often audibly hear a nervous intake of breath.
“I like to push boundaries, so I thought, ‘Why not try to do a show about the one thing it’s very difficult for me to speak about?
“Either way, it should be entertaining. In an entertaining way or a car-crash way.”
“Also, I try to provoke thought, so just doing jokes without anything more, for me that’s as vacuous and pointless as a Delta Goodrem concert. Or the Kardashians. Or commercial radio.”
On a lighter note, Mr Toby said he would one day love to get a gig at the Williamstown RSL.
“I’ve headlined at the Customs House, surely the RSL must be just around the corner?” he said.
Apart from this, Mr Toby said his career included other challenges.
“Barracking for North Melbourne and at the same time being taken seriously as a performer,” he said.
‘White Trash’ is on 6-13 October at 6.30pm except Monday and 5.30pm Sunday. See www.melbournefringe.com.au for tickets.
