Myra DuBois returned to the stage at the Hackney Empire with her irreverent brand of comedy, leaving the audience in stitches, and occasionally wincing with disbelief. Presented as a “wellness sermon,” ‘Myra DuBois: Be Well’ promised a fresh perspective on mental health, but what we really got was a night of rapid-fire wit, punchy audience reads, and the occasional awkward pause.
The show opened with Frank Lavender, another of Gareth Joyner’s comic personas. Lavender, a relic of 1980s northern stand-up, played on his outdated attitudes with impeccable timing. Red-faced and sequined, Lavender delivered his gags with more cheese than precision, striking just the right balance of nostalgia and absurdity, generating more than a few belly laughs and a high level of energy across the auditorium.
However, the energy waned slightly in the second half when Myra DuBois herself took the stage. While the biting repartee and spontaneous audience interactions were sharp as ever, some of the scripted material felt a little stale. Myra joked that she has not re-written the show as her audiences keep paying, but that might actually have been a mistake, as some of the jokes that once skirted the edge of good taste now felt dated, and while DuBois’ sharp-tongued jabs at modern wellness culture were amusing, they occasionally ran dry. The “get over it” mantra, funny at first, began to lose its punch with repetition.
Despite a few lulls, Myra’s unscripted audience interactions saved the night. Her ability to turn any comment into a riotous gag kept the room on edge, but it’s fair to say the first act, with its fresh absurdity, was the highlight. Still, if you’re a fan of camp, quick wit, and are prepared to be picked on, ‘Myra DuBois: Be Well’ is worth the experience. Just sit in the back if you are not prepared to be pulled onto stage, as audience participation levels are high in this one!
Reviewer: Alan Stuart Malin
Reviewed: 14th September 2024
North West End UK Rating: