‘Don’t Call Me A Wog!’ review: Anthony Locascio’s coming of age story

·

By Chris Spyrou and Anastasia Fokianos.

As the house lights dimmed and a projector beamed onto the stage at Sydney’s Comedy Store on Friday, June 17, audiences were taken back to the late 90s, being welcomed into the Locascio home. 

In full focus was a home video displaying a young Anthony Locascio wearing a blue skivvy and the era’s staple piece: denim overalls. 

Interacting with a man in Italian, Locascio makes it known from the outset that his comedy instalment Don’t Call me A Wog! is a coming-of-age story that navigates his 29-year, on-again, off-again relationship with his Greek and Italian background. 

READ MORE: Anthony Locascio explores his Greek and Italian heritage with new ‘Don’t Call Me A Wog’ tour

As the video ended, the audience was met by a now fully grown Locascio in the flesh who had swapped out his overalls for a pink crewneck and found himself surrounded by a series of metaphorically significant coloured boxes. 

Photo: Anthony Locascio Instagram

Incorporating audio-visual, music and lighting into an hour-long show, Locascio became the director and narrator of his intelligently vulnerable stage show. 

Describing life as a 97-kilogram 16-year-old, the rising comedian detailed how he dealt with bullying amidst comprehending his parents’ divorce. 

From sporadic and nervous renditions of George Michael’s Careless Whisper to describing his horror when offered a tuna casserole by a non-ethnic, the comic transforms the show into a cultural production about coming to terms with his ethnic identity in Australia. 

Infusing sharp wit and self-deprecating humour, Locascio was unafraid to poke fun at his early adult and patriotic mission to rise through the ranks of ‘wogness’.

“When you’re deep-frying halloumi while watching a Panathinaikos game on a bootleg satellite box at three in the morning, that’s when you’ve reached peak Greek,” he said.

Photo: Anthony Locascio Instagram

However, his mission to become the ‘King of the Wogs’ at university saw his studies pushed to the side and in his third year, he was removed from his Law Degree for plagiarism. 

Whilst Locascio was adamant he and his best friend submitted the same assignment due to their “telepathic connection,” his expulsion quickly turned his intense pride for his heritage into shame.

It also marked the onset of his conflicting relationship with his dual heritage, where Locascio finds comfort in describing Greek and Italian uni students as ‘YD mannequins,’ whilst maintaining that stereotyping in comedy and in life is dumb.

Trying to make sense of this contradiction would only serve to further confuse, so allow us to wrap this review with this: 

Anthony Locascio is a comedian who is of Greek and Italian heritage. Whilst asserting he is not a ‘wog comic’, Don’t Call Me A Wog! is a production in which people belonging to an ethnic minority will see themselves represented to a tee. 

Through his hour-long show, the title becomes something of a contradiction, but in that confusion, he perfectly captures the conflicting feelings one would feel growing up in Australia proud of their ethnic heritage.

Photo: Anthony Locascio Instagram

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Capturing legacies: The proika exhibition’s emotional tribute to Greek migrants

On Wednesday, November 20, the proika exhibition opened to a crowd of eager guests at the Thematikos x MBO Tailors creative space.

Golden Era Gala: A reunion with a cause to combat brain and rare cancers

White Pearl Foundation and Cquence Foundation have announced the Golden Era Gala to be held at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on November 30.

Melbourne scientist Steven Petratos offers hope to thousands with multiple sclerosis

The image of Steven Petratos’ grandfather, confined to a chair with trembling hands, left an indelible mark on his childhood.

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett to launch book on Nick Thyssen’s legacy

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, supporter of Greece and its diaspora, will launch the biography of Nick Thyssen (Nikos Theodosiadis).

Ithacans in Melbourne enjoy sell-out film screening to support archaeological preservation

On Sunday, at Palace Como in Melbourne, a sell-out crowd of 135 Ithacans and friends gathered to see the historical epic, The Return.

You May Also Like

Academics push for NSW history curriculum to cover the Greek genocide

A collective of history scholars have called on the NSW Education Department to include the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

His Eminence shows confidence in front-line workers of Greek Welfare Centre

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios visited the front-line workers and management of the Greek Welfare Centre in Newtown, Sydney on Thursday 21st May.

Greece and Cyprus express support to Armenia amid clashes with Azerbaijan

The Foreign Ministers of Greece and Cyprus have expressed support to Armenian people amid Azerbaijani conflict.