“… it’s funny. And it’s dark … It will certainly appeal to fans of Baby Reindeer and Fleabag”
Julia Newbould
4 Stars
Venue: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Sydney
Dates: 5-23 February 2025
Samuel Barnett is 36. He’s a comedian and he’s pretty sure something terrible is going to happen.
He’s not sure exactly what. Neither is the audience. And that’s the premise of this one-man comedy act, performed by Tony and Olivier-nominated Samuel Barnett, and written by Marcelo Dos Santos (Backstairs Billy).
Barnett takes us through the tribulations of being a 36-year-old gay man in his first serious relationship. His dating life is dramatised through his fears, insecurities, and dark humour – an Englishman with hang-ups that are painfully relatable to young and not-so-young singles, or recent singles. It’s so relatable that my date and I both felt Barnett was someone we knew.
The stand up starts after Barnett meets a chisel-jawed American who seems to be really into him. In the wake of tireless swiping on dating apps, Barnett can’t believe his luck and is constantly believing the relationship won’t last.
Turns out that the comedian is dating a man who won’t laugh at his humour. Clap yes, cheer sure, but not laugh. Yes, it’s funny. And it’s dark. Can a comedian entertain a real adult relationship with a man who won’t laugh? We take the journey through this relationship with Barnett and follow him willingly through his stand-up routine.
It’s 75-minutes of good comedy by a talented actor. Barnett is a two-time Tony nominated actor. He was most recently seen on screen as Cecil Beaton in the feature film Lee, opposite Kate Winslet.
This production comes from the team behind the Olivier award-winning Baby Reindeer and the international smash-hit Fleabag, and directed by Olivier award-winner Matthew Xia.
It will certainly appeal to fans of Baby Reindeer and Fleabag.
The show arrives in Sydney, where it has been well received, via Adelaide and Melbourne.
Julia Newbould, Theatre Now
