The Melbourne International Comedy Festivals most prestigious annual award, the Barry Award, was awarded early this morning at the Festival Club to The Pajama Men (USA), also known as Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez and their musical accomplice Luminous Craft, for their show Versus Vs. Versus.

The Barry Award, named after Barry Humphries, the first patron of the Festival, recognises the Comedy Festivals Most Outstanding Festival Show, specifically aiming to seek out those performers who are enhancing the art form of comedy and acknowledging

The Pajama Men will join the company of past Barry Award winners including Kristen Schaal and Nina Conti (tied winners of 2008), Daniel Kitson (2007), Demetri Martin (2006), Keating! The Opera (2005), Maria Bamford (2004), Mike Wilmot (2003), Ross Noble (2002), Brian Munich & Friends (2001) and The Mighty Boosh (2000).

Likened to Monty Python on LSD and described as massively inventive, wet your pants funny The Pajama Men aka Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez (who yes, before you ask, do wear pajamas on stage) are known for split second character switches and weaving together multiple storylines at high speeds.

The Pajama Men were a tremendous hit at the 2008 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, grabbing attention from industry and critics alike including five stars from The London Times. Playing to sold-out houses with a demand for extra performances, their show Versus Vs. Versus was cemented as one of 2008s biggest crowd-pleasers.

The Pajama Mens unhinged, original comedy relies heavily on physical theatre in an intellectual way. Critics are often in awe how the duo need no more than two sets of pajamas to act out their bizarre menagerie of characters.