Chris Ryan is one of the most valued figures in the Canberra com- edy scene, and, watching Bogus, it’s easy to see why.

It’s clear that Chris belongs up on stage telling jokes, and witnessing her do so is pure joy. She seems to be one of those rare comedians that are so good at what they do, and so comfortable doing it, that they make comedy seem easy. She commanded the attention of the room effortlessly; she evoked waves of laughter without so much as a sweat.

Bogus is about Ryan being fed up by just about everything. A lot of comedians couldn’t pull off a show based around being sick of it; endless rants and so on can be a bit draining, and it’s easy to alienate parts of your audience if you accidentally (or otherwise) breach the line into material that’s offensive.

Ryan, however, managed to stay away from the rants and insults, and instead imbued the show with relatable worries and stories. Chris Ryan is unapologetically herself on stage, and it’s amazing because she’s just like us (though a lot more charismatic); she says the things we all think but can’t say for fear of getting into trouble, and it’s so freeing to hear them finally said out loud.

Ryan has all the wisdom that comes with life experience with little of the (boring!) maturity, and it’s fantastic. The rest of the Bogus audience clearly agreed. We were all enthralled by her witty observations, and loved her material so much that she had to keep pausing for applause breaks.

Usually at this point of the review I’d point out some flaws in the show I’m reviewing. But I genuinely can’t think of anything bad to say about Bogus. Perfection might be unachievable, but Chris Ryan is damn near close to it. She has won me over, and, what’s more, she’s clearly won the hearts of Canberra audiences. I have no doubt that within the next few years Chris Ryan will become a household name in Australian comedy, and Australian comedy will be all the more interesting because of it.

You can catch Chris Ryan when she brings Bogus to the Enmore Theatre as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival on Sat–Sun May 18–19. She can also be found doing sets at local gigs throughout the year.