Close Menu
Honi Soit
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Skank Sinatra Review: Electric, hilarious, and open-hearted
    • Spacey Jane’s  ‘If That Makes Sense’ and Keeping Australian Music Alive
    • Trump administration issues executive order closing CIA black sites, convinced they are “woke” /Satire
    • “Lawfare”: Jewish staff and students rally behind USyd academics now facing federal legal action
    • Interview with Plestia Alaqad on ‘The Eyes of Gaza’
    • Whose Review Is It Anyway?: NUTS’ WPIIA 2025
    •  “Like diaspora, pollen needs to be scattered to different places to survive and grow”: Dual Opening of ‘Germinate/Propagate/Bloom’, and ‘Last Call’ at 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art
    • Akinola Davies Jr. on ‘My Father’s Shadow’, Namesakes, and Nostalgia
    • About
    • Print Edition
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    • Writing Comp
    • Advertise
    • Locations
    • Contact
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok
    Honi SoitHoni Soit
    Saturday, June 21
    • News
    • Analysis
    • Culture
    • Opinion
    • University
    • Features
    • Perspective
    • Investigation
    • Reviews
    • Comedy
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    Honi Soit
    Home»Reviews

    Review: Claudia Rae & Floyd Alexander-Hunt at Sydney Fringe Comedy

    Rae and Alexander-Hunt did well to land their likeable, relatable comedy with a smaller crowd, Laura de Feyter writes.
    By Laura de FeyterSeptember 22, 2019 Reviews 3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    An intimate group gathered in Marrickville’s Factory Theatre on Friday, 20th September, to view Claudia Rae and Floyd Alexander-Hunt’s offerings in the Sydney Fringe Festival. The split bill hosted two rising comedy talents, both of who were 2019 finalists at the NSW RAW Comedy competition. 

    ‘Sometimes I just do jokes that I like,’ said Bachelor of Maths graduate Rae. To some extent, this epitomised the first act on the bill. 

    Rae’s content was primarily disjointed, covering a range of topics from the Belmont high school fire, to her firing from an adolescent crown career in the punchy half-hour slot. Much of the subject matter relied on local humour (‘the best thing to do in Adelaide is leave’ was a red hot zinger) and at times was too niche or absurd to land safely on a varied crowd. 

    Yet Rae’s awkward, mostly self-aware comedy style was instantly endearing, just like the slanted ‘yeah cool’ she delivered in a broad Aussie accent after almost every joke. For every apparent punchline, there were three that followed and only improved on the first. She made even ‘Activities of Daily Living’ hilarious with deadpan delivery only intercepted by occasional laughing fits at her own jokes, and her tongue firmly planted in her cheek.

    Following this lively start, USyd student Alexander-Hunt quickly won the crowd with her cringe-style self-parodying. Painting herself as a crazed, lovelorn ex-girlfriend, she skillfully wove the recurring theme of her heartbreak throughout the set.

    This was aided by a firm highlight of Alexander-Hunt’s performance – the thoughtful inclusion of musical numbers on ukulele and violin, often a source of continuity by contributing anecdotes to her romance storylines. At times the sheer volume of musical comedy in the set felt like overkill, with the audience feeling less comfortable amidst the more unfamiliar comedic style. Yet the crowd soon warmed to Alexander-Hunt’s evident talent for humorous storytelling across a range of mediums, as hearty applause consistently followed fun little numbers like ‘a Christmas divorce’.

    Audience participation was a further highlight of both sets, made more effective and forthcoming by the intimate setting of the Factory Floor. Both capitalised on the small crowd to make night-winning moments happen, like Alexander-Hunt requesting an audience member send a text message to her ex. (Disclaimer: the writer is unsure if the text was actually delivered. Potentially left on read.)

    Whilst both acts came evidently prepared with a host of props and one-liners on hand, this sometimes became a detriment; with over-rehearsed jokes falling flat on an expectant audience. These moments were few however. Rae and Alexander-Hunt are overwhelmingly likeable, skilled storytellers; and provide a promising glimpse at the future of Sydney’s fringe comedy. 

    Claudia Rae & Floyd Alexander-Hunt returns on Sunday 22nd September at 6pm at Factory Theatre, Marrickville. Tickets are $12-17 and can be purchased at the Factory Theatre website or at the door.

    Claudia Rae comedy Floyd Alexander Hunt review sydney fringe

    Keep Reading

    Skank Sinatra Review: Electric, hilarious, and open-hearted

    Spacey Jane’s  ‘If That Makes Sense’ and Keeping Australian Music Alive

    Whose Review Is It Anyway?: NUTS’ WPIIA 2025

     “Like diaspora, pollen needs to be scattered to different places to survive and grow”: Dual Opening of ‘Germinate/Propagate/Bloom’, and ‘Last Call’ at 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art

    Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, and Rameau walk into the Oldest Sydney Church

    The Anarchy 1138-53: to play or to plunder?

    Just In

    Skank Sinatra Review: Electric, hilarious, and open-hearted

    June 20, 2025

    Spacey Jane’s  ‘If That Makes Sense’ and Keeping Australian Music Alive

    June 20, 2025

    Trump administration issues executive order closing CIA black sites, convinced they are “woke” /Satire

    June 19, 2025

    “Lawfare”: Jewish staff and students rally behind USyd academics now facing federal legal action

    June 19, 2025
    Editor's Picks

    Part One: The Tale of the Corporate University

    May 28, 2025

    “Thank you Conspiracy!” says Capitalism, as it survives another day

    May 21, 2025

    A meditation on God and the impossible pursuit of answers

    May 14, 2025

    We Will Be Remembered As More Than Administrative Errors

    May 7, 2025
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

    From the mines

    • News
    • Analysis
    • Higher Education
    • Culture
    • Features
    • Investigation
    • Comedy
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Misc

     

    • Opinion
    • Perspective
    • Profiles
    • Reviews
    • Science
    • Social
    • Sport
    • SRC Reports
    • Tech

    Admin

    • About
    • Editors
    • Send an Anonymous Tip
    • Write/Produce/Create For Us
    • Print Edition
    • Locations
    • Archive
    • Advertise in Honi Soit
    • Contact Us

    We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The University of Sydney – where we write, publish and distribute Honi Soit – is on the sovereign land of these people. As students and journalists, we recognise our complicity in the ongoing colonisation of Indigenous land. In recognition of our privilege, we vow to not only include, but to prioritise and centre the experiences of Indigenous people, and to be reflective when we fail to be a counterpoint to the racism that plagues the mainstream media.

    © 2025 Honi Soit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Accessibility

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.