Review: ★★★★ Aunty Donna: Glennridge Secondary College (MICF)

There's a line outside Max Watt's that stretches almost around the block, further cementing Aunty Donna's status as the new rock stars of Aussie comedy. But while their fanbase definitely boasts a Gen Y majority, the odd '70s child and even a couple of baby boomers have come out. Waiting outside, an older gentleman asks a girl in front of him, "So, what exactly is this?" to which she sternly replies, "Chaos."

Zachary Ruane, Broden Kelly and Mark Bonanno have gone gangbusters over the last couple of years, but Glennridge Secondary College sees the Aunty Donna boys take on a more structured approach than ever before. Instead of their usual brand of nonsensical and disconnected sketches, they've reinvented themselves with some nonsensical, connected sketches. The trio have tapped into some serious nostalgia vibes, making their made-up high school feel very real at times. Crowd members will almost certainly have an exam-based anxiety dream after this.

While the reference points are delivered expertly, Aunty Donna have a habit of overdoing it when it comes to some of their skits. Occasionally, repetitive jokes feel less like they're testing the limits of comedy, and more like they're trying to fill out their time on stage. As well as this, an audience participation moment feels very uncomfortable, as the three-piece all but force two random punters to embrace on stage.

Nonetheless, the boys have delivered another textbook Aunty Donna show, satisfying that urge for the weird and wonderful that they do so well. We fully expect lines down the street to be a familiar fixture on Swanson Street 'til the end of the fest.

Aunty Donna present Glennridge Secondary College until 22 Apr at Max Watts, part of the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.