Austin Harrison
This is the Last Goldfish I am Going to eat for You is a hilarious title and also has nothing to do with show Grace Jarvis presents us. It is however a very entertaining title, and in that respect it fits the show perfectly!
It’s a quiet crowd for this 9:30 Wednesday night show and I appreciate that Jarvis immediately acknowledges this fact and puts us all at ease. She also handles it like a pro, bringing the energy and powering through despite the challenges of a small audience.
The show traverses the themes and foibles of growing up queer and on the autism spectrum in rural Australia, as well as a bit of content around Jarvis’ lineage of paternal veterans. These themes weave through the show demonstrating the cohesion and craft of a performer who truly understands the demands of a 50 minute stand up show.
There is a hard edge to Javis’ comedy. She does not shy away from the blatant otherism of her upbringing, or calling it out for what it is. At one point she even quips “to be commercially successful you don’t say anything. Just talk about what you saw in the street” which feels like a fitting criticism from someone doing very much the opposite. This is beautifully juxtaposed with a significant and recurring chunk of the show about the movie Tall Girl. Even this is used as a comparison for the actual struggles of kids that battle being different.
On top of all that, Jarvis is also genuinely funny. Her timing is on point, every joke well executed, pacing never lags. She truly deserves better than the small and tired audience this 9:30 slot in the BATS Studio has given her. If you’re a future Comedy Fest programmer and you’re reading this- give Jarvis an 8pm slot in a proper theatre! She’ll kill it and we’ll all be better off for her fresh, honest perspective.
In all, This is the Last Goldfish I am Going to eat for You is a proper hearty meal of a comedy show. It’s got full frontal honesty, comedic craft and niche references galore. I recommend it for a refreshing and unique perspective in amongst an ocean of joyous but generic stand up this Comedy Fest.
This is the Last Goldfish I am Going to eat for You is on at BATS Theatre until Saturday 19 May. Tickets are available on the Comedy Festival Website.