As regular patrons of Ronny Chieng’s shows at previous Melbourne International Comedy Festivals know, Chieng has often spoken fondly of Matt Okine. With several comedy awards under his belt and a sweet gig hosting Triple J’s Breakfast with Matt and Alex, Okine is enjoying a good deal of success. The once-struggling comedian has supported a slew of international comedians like Dave Chappelle and Aziz Ansari and even toured internationally as part of the acclaimed Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. There is no doubt the buzz surrounding Okine is big. The question is whether he lives up to the hype.
Tall and lanky, Okine bounces on stage full of boundless energy, enthusiasm sparking from his eyes and big smile. Okine has performed at acclaimed venues such as the Sydney Opera House so the humble Banquet Room at the Victoria Hotel was an interesting choice for his 2015 comedy show, The Other Guy. Okine unconsciously hints the Victoria Hotel holds a special place for him: it was where he stayed at when he performed as a finalist at the 2004 Triple J RAW, a gig that launched his career as a comedian.
Now ‘rich’ thanks to a steady job, his show The Other Guy sees Okine reminisce about his past and juxtaposes it with his life now. It’s not sappy, but it has its poignant moments, which don’t last very long. Just as Okine starts revealing his sentimental side, he obliterates it with an unexpected, cuss-laden punchline, leaving everyone cackling. Some punchlines are so shocking, it’s hard to know if we are supposed to laugh or gasp in horror.
From the awkward perils of dating at the age of 18 versus 29, to fist-bumping financial security by splurging on a half and half pizza and wine that doesn’t have the word ‘house’ in front of it, The Other Guy also details the sadness of friendships and relationships ending. But before it gets too reflective, Okine distracts us with the hilarious account of his clumsy return to the dating scene after a nine-year hiatus. Okine proves dating doesn’t get easier with age, especially with social media’s cruel jabs at his receding hairline and confidence.
What makes Okine so likeable is he reminds you of that loveable friend everyone has who always has a great, yet somewhat hard to believe story to tell every time you catch up at the pub over a few beers. He has a way of relating to people, from the story itself, down to the way he delivers it. Discussing a very embarrassing attempt at hooking up with someone, Okine scrunches his eyes shut, clutching his curls, fully regretting what he’s about to tell us. His stories teeter on being almost outrageous, but employ hilarious analogies to make them relevant to his audience. It’s almost like Okine is talking directly to you and not performing on stage to a packed house.
The Other Guy is a good show with genuine laughs (if you don’t mind boyish humour about sex and nipples) fuelled by Okine’s great story telling ability. Does he live up to the hype? Not quite, but he gets pretty close.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Other Guy
Matt Okine
The Victoria Hotel, Melbourne
March 26 – April 19
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
www.comedyfestival.com.au
25 March – 19 April
