Lou Wall has been a staple of the stage and screen for a number of years now, with their 2024 show being nominated for Most Outstanding Show at the Comedy Festival and popping up on ABC shows like Fisk and WTFAQ. One of their most notable moments of Lou’s stand-up was the Facebook Marketplace song, which received a lot of attention online and drew many to their show, which does make it’s return in some capacity for 2025’s Breaking The Fifth Wall.
This is how it’s done. Lou Wall is operating on a different comedic plane to us all, and this show it proof of it. Breaking The Fifth Wall moves in so many ways, (231 to be exact), and you’ll be either barrelled over with laughter or your mouth will be agape in shock.
There’s a big throughline of the show that would not be fair to Lou to spoil here, but the hour dives into the world of lying. Lou and director Zoë Coombs Marr have created an impeccable hour of mind-bending comedy.
As Lou points out, there’s a bit of an unspoken rule whenever we walk into a comedy show. We all know what we’re going to get. The comedian holds our hand through the hour, and we leave with a smile on our faces. While there is a portion of that here, that’s not what Breaking The Fifth Wall is about.
It’s the perfect name for the show too. When we think of the phrase breaking the fourth wall, it’s a movie trope that involves screen actors talking directly into the camera, technically showing that they know they’re in a movie or TV show.
Even if there’s no clear definition, it’s clear that ‘breaking the fifth wall’ means taking it up a level. Which is exactly what we get here. Lou is acting like it’s a standard comedy show, before taking the rug out from under us (a number of times).
This is aided by a strong multimedia offering. There are original songs, videos, and a pre-recorded Lou interacting with their on-stage self, all showcasing why there’s been a lot of buzz around them over the last few years.
Breaking The Fifth Wall is a very special show. It’s arguably one of the most carefully and expertly written this Festival. It is definitely a must-see if you’re keen for something that’ll sit apart from the pack.
Lou Wall Breaking The Fifth Wall is performing until 20 April at The Westin – One, Comedy Republic, 205 Collins Street as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/breaking-the-5th-wall
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/melbcomedyfestival/
Website: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/ and
Leave a Reply