Jon Bennett's performance will be about moving to the U.S. from Australia during the pandemic.

Australian comedian Jon Bennett is the special guest of Friday’s “To Tell the Truth,” Bend’s long-running talk show based on National Public Radio’s storytelling program, “The Moth.”

It’ll be an evening of hilarity as Bennett takes the stage with his trademark storytelling style alongside fellow Australian comedian Michael Marcus and Dan Cohen, co-founder of the storytelling series.

Bennett, a touring storyteller performer of 20 years, has earned seven nominations at the Just for Laughs comedy festival.

What’s the show about?

Bennett’s Bend bit will riff on why he decided to move to the U.S. from Australia.

“I moved during the pandemic, which was just stupid,” he said. “It was a series of silly decisions, but I don’t regret them.”

When The Bulletin spoke with Bennett last week, he’d just wrapped what he estimated was his 145th comedy festival after completing a series of performances in Vancouver, Canada.

“I guess that’s what the show is about as well. Most of my life I spent touring — that’s my adult life — I quit my job 15 years ago, when I was being a normal person and then just started touring and traveling and performing and it’s been 14 years now,” he said.

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More about Bennett

Bennett has 11 multimedia comedy shows and has performed at festivals including Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

He also has two cats.

“I’ve got a cat named Dr. Purfessor Purkins The First and another cat called Secretary Debbie Gray The Last and they’re very popular on the internet. My wife runs their Instagram (@dr.purfessorpurkins) and they’re more popular than me and it makes me very angry,” Bennett joked.

If You Go

What: “To Tell the Truth” with special guest Jon Bennett

When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Unity Community Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend

Cost: $20 or $25 at the door

Contact: bendticket.com