Review by Steve Bennett at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

There’s nothing that even the toughest review can say about Matt Stewart that he doesn’t say about himself. 

He ladles on the self-deprecation so thickly, you might think it’s a diagnosable condition, relentlessly mocking his lack of energy and edginess, such as sardonically calling himself the ‘bad boy of comedy’ after his bit about Coco Pops.

That angle starts strong with his ineffectual attempts to pump the crowd into being fully ‘roused’ for the comedy ahead, but the constant self-conscious reminders of how low-key the performance is ultimately drag the mood down further than it need be.

Make no mistake, his monotone is so soporific it could sedate a dingo, and his intent to wring every last drop of comedy out of a situation by stretching ideas and offering many variations on a theme can be too much. But there are very often sharp, offbeat thoughts at the heart of his routines, which capture the imagination and don’t need to be constantly undermined.

Much of the material is rooted in taking a smartly abstract stance on everyday situations, such as the blokey banter with a tradie giving a quote, with Stewart offering a fresh and distinctive viewpoint. There’s also a glimpse into the comedian’s own peculiarities, from his vegetarianism to the gambling problem he overcame, again told with a typical quirkiness.

Tonight’s performance was interrupted by an unscheduled blackout when the lights failed, which provided a much-needed bump in vitality, and allowed Stewart to relax a little as he worked in the moment – proving he’s not always as dry as he, or his show title, suggests.

The winner of the 2014 Raw new comedy competition, Stewart makes a promising debut with Pretty Dry, which demonstrates his flair for fresh ideas and ability to fashion an offbeat joke, even if a few routines become indulgent. But primarily the laconic delivery needs to speak for itself, without constant reminders of the downbeat tone.

Review date: 19 Apr 2017
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