In between hosting on the Foxtel’s comedy channel and regular soiree’s to the Edinburgh Fringe, Anthony Menchetti ponders the virtues of the Vagina.

Very excited to hear about your Midsumma show – what can we expect?
It’s a stand up show.  I’m really excited to be doing it because most of my shows follow a theme but this one jumps from topic to topic.  It’s a kind of ‘best of’ of all the shows I’ve done about heaps of different topics including full time work, dating, clubbing and gay places such as the peel… Ahem

Have you actually had any intimate encounters with a vagina?
I think I saw one once on the X-Files but I can’t be sure as to whether or not it was real or fake. But seriously folks, yeah I have dated girls and I have many close female friends.  Some of them feel rather free to get dressed and undressed in front of me.

What are the pros and cons of being an out gay comedian?
Pro’s = the gay audience gives amazing support.  Gay audiences generally love to go out a lot so they often see shows or come to shows or events that I’m at.
Con’s = Gay audiences are often also involved in running the events that I’m at so they don’t pay. Hmmmm
Pro’s = If the gay audience like you, the rest of the world follows (according to Madonna).
Con’s = If they don’t, you’re screwed! (also according to Madonna)

To make it in comedy you really need to be passionate about it.  You really have to love performing and stay focused on that because it’s not always a glamorous job.  One day I could be performing in a fancy 2000 seat theatre, the next day I could be performing in a small underground cave getting dripped on by stalactites (true story). I performed in a cave at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Later that week it could be a TV spot, then the next day I’m doing a corporate gig in the middle of no where and no one even knows I’m a comic and I’ve been introduced as a guest speaker or magician or something. It’s the most mind-fucking job because every gig I’m in a different environment and every gig I have to mould myself to that audience.  It’s rarely possible to just have one routine that is guaranteed to make any audience laugh anywhere. You always have to change it to adapt it to the crowd.

What’s the craziest response you had to a gag?
I once emceed the Meredith Music Festival to an audience of around 5,000 people.  One of the annual events of the festival is the famous nude race where members of the audience (male and female) get up and run a race completely naked. I was supposed to commentate the race but it was so far from the stage that I couldn’t see what was going on.
Scrap all that.  I just came up with a new answer to this question. I’m writing the answers to this interview on a plane and two girls sitting next to me just saw the words Vagina Decliner written on the top of the page and cracked up.  I tried to explain but they think I’m just crazy.

What’s your family background (Menchetti) and what do your folks think of your act?
My dad’s Italian.  That’s where the name comes from.  Dad loves ‘Carry On’ films so it’s safe to say our taste in humour is hugely different and Mum’s never laughed.  She has no sense of humour at all.  I remember doing a gig in Perth and she was sitting in the front row of this comedy club. She’s really Christian so every time one of the comics swore she would give them evil eyes.  We were all backstage after the gig and one of the comics goes, “Who’s that woman in the front row? Who comes to a comedy gig and just gives the comics daggers?”  I was going to keep quiet but then my idiot friend goes, “That’s Anthony’s mum”.  Awkward!

This is the first time Midsumma has had a comedy stream in the programme. What are your thoughts about the gay communities attitude/support of gay comedians?
I think the support for gay comics is great.  I’m running a lot of the comedy program for Midsumma so I’m hoping it is going to be great.  There are so many great gay comedy performers around.  How can people not be supportive?

Could we do a tabloid with you and talk relationships – what do you look for in a partner? Are you in a relationship at the moment?
Wow. This is just like a question on Gaydar.  When I’m single I have fun and party hard.  When I’m in a relationship I believe in Monogamy. I love it when you bump into an older couple that have been together for years and years.  It’s really encouraging. Currently I’m single.

What are your thoughts on gay marriage?
I talk about this in the show.  I’m a big believer in gay marriage.  Why should we not have the same rights as people who are straight?

Dante’s Upstairs
150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
January 18 – February 3
Details: 9347 5503
www.anthonymenchetti.com

by DAREN POPE