Melbourne International Comedy Festival review

Dry not just in his deadpan wit, Matt Stewart also gave up booze for a few months. 

There have been stronger premises for comedy shows, but what gives Stewart the edge is that this set-up is something of a Trojan horse for him to discuss more potentially divisive issues surrounding the notion of masculinity. For what maketh a man, especially in Australia, than having a stubbie in the hand?

As a  long-bearded liberal hipster type who looks like he’s barely off his unicycle, Stewart’s masculinity has certainly been questioned by reactionary knuckleheads on social media, who dub him a ‘soyboy cuck’ for holding progressive views. That – and things like the use of gendered terms such as ‘man-sized’ in marketing – are grist for this show.

Stewart’s strength is his smart writing. He knows all the tricks and is skilled at either using or subverting them. His opening gambit, mocking the ‘I know what you’re all thinking…’ trope that allows comedians to reel of a succession of self-deprecating gags about their appearance, is especially well done – even given that parodying the line is starting to become widespread among savvier comics.

While his mind is sharp, he wears it lightly, with no ostentatious show of intelligence. Messages are smuggled In Between accessible personal stories – such as how he’s learned to turn down alcohol at parties, or a bizarre encounter outside a pub.

This latter has something of an anticlimax, especially given the weirdness of the situation – but that’s life. Other of his devices don’t quite pay off, either: the absurdity of his Chicken Kiev bit was stretched beyond breaking point, and his callbacks are a little contrived.

Such things are a little gimmicky, but probably necessary to break up the hour and keep hold of the audience since Stewart’s static, and relatively monotone, delivery is unforgiving, however good the material.

But there is much to enjoy in this deceptive cocktail of stories, jokes and social commentary.

Review date: 3 Apr 2019
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival