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Ord Valley Muster: Side splitting-laughter at this year’s Comedy in the Park in Kununurra

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The crowd at this year's Comedy in the Park at the Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra.
Camera IconThe crowd at this year's Comedy in the Park at the Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra. Credit: Ben Broadwith/Ben Broadwith

It was a night of side-splitting laughter at Kununurra’s sold out Comedy in the Park, with a huge crowd of 900 turning out to enjoy of the highlights of the Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster.

The comedy line-up was hand-picked by the festival organisers to ensure the laughs were non-stop all night, and included comedians Steph Tisdell, Chris Franklin, Bev Killick and Fabian Woods.

It was a global audience at this year’s Comedy in the Park, with guests The Kimberley Echo spoke with hailing from across Australia and as far away as Oregon in the US.

Hosted by the hilarious self-confessed yobbo Chris Franklin, the crowd roared with laughter listening to his mischievous antics and epic stories, tapping into everyone’s inner bogan.

From his flannelette shirt to his double plugger thongs, Franklin’s “Hoganesque” style of comedy touched on the delicate issues of discovering he is one-sixteenth Aboriginal, booze and relationships.

“The audience was brilliant, we’ve had a great time up here, the Ord Valley Muster has looked after us well,” said Franklin.

A proud Noongar Yamatji man, Woods, who won the 2019 Deadly Funny National Awards, had the crowd chuckling with funny tales of traditional names and dances.

Bold, brassy and brutally honest, Killick had every woman shedding tears of laughter with her rough talking, soul-mama jokes about pilates-loving joggy mothers and grotty teenage boys.

Killick, who joined Steph Tisdell on a Ord River cruise with Triple J Cruises, said she loved being in Kununurra.

“The crowd was brilliant and I loved the cruise up the Ord River. We learned so much and this country up here is beautiful — we just love, love, love, nature,” said Killick.

Tisdell ended the show with her self-deprecating humour that kept audiences chuckling.

Finding the fun in everyday items, like crop tops, Tisdell ended Comedy in the Park on a high, with the audience calling for an encore.

Tisdell, a proud Ydinji woman, is one of the funniest Aboriginal comedians with a mission to empower those around her using comedy as a way to observe the world.

Next year’s Ord Valley Muster is scheduled for May 17-25.

SEE THE PICTURES

The crowd at this year's Comedy in the Park at the Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra.
Camera IconThe crowd at this year's Comedy in the Park at the Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra. Credit: Ben Broadwith/Ben Broadwith
Alex Haller and Mandy Muecke, of Kununurra.
Camera IconAlex Haller and Mandy Muecke, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Craig Jolly, of Perth, and Wally Lovelock, of Kununurra.
Camera IconCraig Jolly, of Perth, and Wally Lovelock, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Katrina Jessen and William Cummings, of Nookenbah.
Camera Icon Katrina Jessen and William Cummings, of Nookenbah. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Abby Allen, of Tasmania, and Patrick Beveridge, of Tasmania.
Camera IconAbby Allen, of Tasmania, and Patrick Beveridge, of Tasmania. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Tamara McMahon and Tyron McMahon, of Kununurra.
Camera IconTamara McMahon and Tyron McMahon, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Teri and Devon Hearing, of Oregon.
Camera IconTeri and Devon Hearing, of Oregon. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Terry Bald, and Janet Bald, of Victoria.
Camera IconTerry Bald, and Janet Bald, of Victoria. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Tim Purdy, of Kununurra, and Misty Purdy, of Kununurra.
Camera IconTim Purdy, of Kununurra, and Misty Purdy, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Rhiannon Owen, of Perth, and Nigel Elliott, of Kununurra.
Camera IconRhiannon Owen, of Perth, and Nigel Elliott, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Alan Ackerley and Sally Ackerley, of Perth.
Camera IconAlan Ackerley and Sally Ackerley, of Perth. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Michael Polyakov, of Kununurra, Carles Gil, of Kununurra, and Sabrina Chabar, of Kununurra.
Camera IconMichael Polyakov, of Kununurra, Carles Gil, of Kununurra, and Sabrina Chabar, of Kununurra. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Zoe and Steve Todd, of Kununurra .
Camera IconZoe and Steve Todd, of Kununurra . Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman
Keryn and Rob Catalano, of Perth.
Camera IconKeryn and Rob Catalano, of Perth. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman

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