MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
ANDY ZALTZMAN – PLAN Z ★★★½
Melbourne Town Hall
Until April 23

It's worth getting to Andy Zaltzman​'s show a little early.

His pre-show announcement, delivered live by the man himself from backstage, is far more than just a request to turn off mobile phones or refrain from taking photos.

Instead, it evolves into an elaborate warning akin to an airline safety briefing, eventually becoming something surreal. 

It sets the tone for the show to follow – wry observations, clever wordplay and brilliantly conceived similes.

Politics is a big focus for the Englishman, with Donald Trump, the Syrian crisis and, as you might expect, Brexit taking up much of his focus (perhaps a bit too much on the latter). 

His Australian-focused material is less sharp (one excellent bit about our immigration policies aside), but will likely become stronger as he settles into his run, and tightens some of the weaker parts of this preview show.

Nevertheless, Zaltzman is one of the sharper minds in political comedy today and he reminds us that sometimes all you can do is laugh.