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Credit: Michael Wharley

Groom for Improvement, Camden Comedy Club – Review

Pros: A genuinely funny, relatable comedy.

Cons: It was a struggle to come up with cons. I suppose my attention wandered a couple of times but it was snapped back to so quickly, I barely noticed!

Pros: A genuinely funny, relatable comedy. Cons: It was a struggle to come up with cons. I suppose my attention wandered a couple of times but it was snapped back to so quickly, I barely noticed! Matt Green’s Groom for Improvement brings out the, ‘I never thought of that, but it’s so true’ moments in life to which we all – boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, non-attached or otherwise labeled – can relate. Green ponders life after marriage and all the instances leading up to and around it with astute observation and excellent timing. Covering everything from the grand romantic gesture…

Summary

rating

Excellent

Spot on observational humour that will make anyone laugh-out-loud, despite their marital status.

Matt Green’s Groom for Improvement brings out the, ‘I never thought of that, but it’s so true’ moments in life to which we all – boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, non-attached or otherwise labeled – can relate.

Green ponders life after marriage and all the instances leading up to and around it with astute observation and excellent timing. Covering everything from the grand romantic gesture gone slightly awry, to dreaded wedding speeches, dry nuptial celebrations, wedding lists, noisy neighbours and shopping with your significant other, he finds the instances in life that everyone has found themselves in and yet has never realized just how funny they are – until now.

Quick on his feet and riffing well, if not gently, off his audience, Green’s act is reasonably self aware, acknowledging when he hasn’t quite won his punchline (an infrequent occurrence) and is swift to bring everyone back on track. This seems to be a process of internal evaluation of his own work that lingers in the background of the performance, but is expertly worked into the gig without diminishing the calibre of the performance in any form.

Striking a delicate balance between self-deprecating humour and taking the mickey out of everyone else, Green manages to keep his audience on side with his dry sense of irony, never going too far, but happy to skate close to the line, giving an effective result.

That being said, this show cannot categorise itself in the shock-comedy genre that has become so popular. I personally found the set perfectly pitched, but if a brutal cutting down of the audience is more your thing, Groom for Improvement might not be your cup of tea.

However, if you’re looking my for smart comedy that allows you to laugh at all the little absurdities in life that you never knew were so funny, Matt Green’s show is is right up your street.

Written and Performed by Matt Green as part of the Camden Fringe

This show has now completed its trun.

Book for more at the Camden Fringe: www.camdenfringe.com

About Julia Cameron

Works in arts marketing/administration. Julia studied theatre at university and once upon a time thought she wanted to be an actor. Upon spending most of her time working in Accessorize in pursuit of the dream she opted for the route of pragmatism and did an English Masters in Shakespeare instead. Julia has been in London for four years where she’s worked in and outside of the arts. In addition to Shakespeare, she loves a good kitchen sink drama and most of the classics but will see pretty much anything. Except puppets – she has a tough time with puppets.

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