Oberon gets a good laugh

November 13, 2025

One of the lines repeated so often in that timeless comedy show, Monty Python's Flying Circus, was "And now for something completely different". What was different this time was that a comedy show came to the Malachi Gilmore Hall on November 8. Featuring Natalie May (and puppets)), Sean Woodland from the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Martin Curtis and Lithgow's own Marty Bright, the evening had a good sized audience rolling in the aisles, splitting their sides with laughter, having tears running down their cheeks and any other clichés you can think of.

Marty Bright started the show. He talked about how every town has another town that they like to look down on. As he lives in Lithgow, the target there is Cullen Bullen. Locals were too polite to tell him Oberon's opinion of Lithgow, but the caricatures are eerily similar. He also commented on some of the ways that Australians use language, but the language he used probably shouldn't be repeated here. It was what our mothers used to call "LANGUAGE!!!" in capital letters and with exclamation marks.

Marty Bright got things rolling.

Next up was ventriloquist Natalie May. Ventriloquism seems to have fallen out of favour recently but it's an art form that allows the person with their hand up the back to say things that might cause even only slightly prudish people to become a bit concerned. Given that this was a show for adults there was a lot more laughter than there was walking out in disgust. Not that anybody walked out. Natalie's act was an example of how good and entertaining it can be to essentially see someone having a conversation with themselves.

Natalie May and Alice. Alice has strong opinions and lacks subtlety, but that's all part of the fun

The third act was Martin Curtis who not only told jokes but sang them as well. One of his songs was about something that causes people to go "Pardon. Could you say that again?" in a questioning tone of voice. Lithgow used to have Ironfest and it used to have Beatlefest. Now it has SchnitzelFest. A festival of crumbed and fried meats. Just the idea could be considered a joke worthy of a comedy festival.

Martin singing about schnitzels.

See also: The Great Schnitty Search

Last on the bill was Sean Woodland, who kept everyone amused with a wide variety of stories about family life. Stories about things and events that many parents could identify with but were long enough ago to find amusing.

Sean turns life into comedy.

You can find Blue Mountains Comedy on Facebook, Instagram or by email at . If you like a good laugh (and who doesn't?) check out where the next night of amusement is happening in the area. Also, keep your eyes out for what's coming up at the Malachi. You might be surprised by the variety.

The event was supported by Arts On Tour and is part of the Backroads Touring Initiative which aims to bring entertainment to the sort of places that sometimes get overlooked when acts are on tour.