mmg.com.au

The Australian comedian is bringing his long-running show, Josh Earl vs Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book, to town on Wednesday, bringing an end to a two-year tour.

The show is a homage to the book his mum bought in 1985, a book which he says changed the history of the Earl family forever.

‘‘It’s pretty much a love letter to the book … (and) the cakes that most families in the ’80s and ’90s grew up with,’’ Earl said.

‘‘But it’s also about my family, my mum in particular and how the book . . . shaped our lives.’’

And what made him dedicate a whole show to a cookbook?

‘‘It kind of came about by accident,’’ Earl said.

‘‘I was talking about the book on stage one night just as a bit of a throw-away (line) and everyone in the audience sort of sat up … I actually had to stop the show.

‘‘I said it as a joke, but someone came up to me after the show wanting details and I thought well, there’s one ticket sold.’’

Earl then sat down for eight months and wrote what would later be awarded the Best Comedy of the Fringe crown at

this year’s Perth Fringe Festival.

‘‘It was really nice after having performed that show for so long,’’ Earl said.

‘‘It was great — it was a weird thing though, I wasn’t there when it was announced.

‘‘My nanna sent me a message at about two in the morning telling me I’d won. I was just sleepy at the time.’’

Earl said one of his favourite things about the show was the broad demographic it had attracted.

‘‘You get the people that grew up with the book (and) you’re also getting the people who made the cakes as well,’’ he said.

‘‘You get a lot of parents taking their children who are now grown up. It’s something they can experience together and reminisce about.’’

But he also acknowledged the name of the show had confused some people, resulting in a rather unfortunate performance for a group of school-aged children.

‘‘It’s not a rude or crude show, but it is an adult show in terms of the references.’’

After two years on the road with this show, Earl is sad to leave it behind but excited about what’s next.

He plans to make a few appearances at the various comedy festivals over the next few months, but his main hope is to end his highly successful tour on a high note.

‘‘Shepparton is the last night of the tour so I would like it to be a very good one.’’

Josh Earl vs Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book is at 8 pm on Wednesday, November 14 at the Eastbank Centre.

Tickets for members are $21 for adults, $17 for concession holders and $15 for students. Tickets for non-members are $26 for adults, $21 for concession holders and $19 for students.

For more information, phone Riverlinks on 5832 9511 or visit www.riverlinksvenues.com.au