Little Lark of London

Do you like comedy? Do you like alcohol, particularly wine? What about the two put together? If the answer is yes, then In Pour Taste may be the show for you. The show, created by Australian comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh, is a mix of comedy and wine tasting, with the two comedians joined on stage by Beth Brickenden, a wine expert who founded Drag & Wine. 

Before the wine starts getting consumed, Preston and Cavanagh warm up the audience, going through a list of descriptors and having audience members give a “woo” if they fit the description. This leads to some interesting discussions, including the pair chatting with someone who has spent over £5,000 on a bottle of wine, which gets quite a few gasps from the audience. One audience member is also given great power with the “bullshit bell,” which they are requested to ring every time they believe someone says something untrue (luckily, the audience member they choose has an excellent sense of comedic timing). 

First, the two white wines, a Chenin Blanc and a Macabeo. Brickenden does a lovely job explaining the origin of each of the wines, even joining in on the jokes when people can’t stop laughing after her discussing the history of “bush wine” (a very mature audience). It reaches a point where no one is able to speak because of how much they are laughing, making for quite the giggly atmosphere. This may be the first sexual joke made in the show, but, as more alcohol is consumed, it certainly will not be the last! Another dirty joke highlight includes Preston and Cavanagh joking about “yeast,” which leads to even more laughs. 

Then, the audience is treated to an “Elixir” Rose, another lovely wine that helps prepare the transfer from white to red wine. Audience members are given some time to enjoy their wine samples in between the jokes and information, but they are brought back to focus with the required dancealong to “Hot Potato” by The Wiggles – and yes, the dancing is enforced by Preston and Cavanagh. 

Finally, the two red wines, an Imprudente and an Aglianico, are introduced. As someone who usually does not enjoy red wine and has been known to compare the taste of some to “a barn,” this particular critic was pleasantly surprised by how good both of the two samples were – though this might have been because of the glasses that had already been consumed! Indeed, something to pour the leftover wine into would have been appreciated, as it felt as though it was an obligation to drink all of the five samples provided, leading to a bit more alcohol consumption than expected!

After all of the wines have been tasted, the audience comes together to make a list of fifteen ways to describe line, a hilarious way to end the evening. At the end of the show, audience members are given an order form for de Burgh Wine Merchants, which gives them the opportunity to purchase any of the wines they have tasted over the past hour or so, including a 10% discount!

Ultimately, In Pour Taste is a funny yet surprisingly educational exploration of wine, led by two talented comedians and an incredibly knowledgeable wine connoisseur! Whether audience members drink wine from a bag on a clothesline or a £5,000 bottle, they are going to have a great time. 

In Pour Taste ran on 16 September at Underbelly Boulevard as a part of Fringe Fix, which ran until 27 September. For more information and to purchase tickets for future In Pour Taste shows, click here.