Brendon Green’s latest show, I’m Happy You’re Here, is a masterpiece of introspective comedy. 

He opens by describing the stage set up, as well as his own appearance and demeanour for those in the audience who may be visually impaired. While this practice is slowly becoming more common in live performance generally, I have seldom encountered it during stand-up.

Green has a warm and inviting presence that immediately puts the audience at ease. His personal style of presentation is unique and endearing, and he skilfully weaves together anecdotes and observations from his life with clever and poignant narratives that pay off throughout the show. One of the most impressive aspects of Green’s comedy is his ability to explore the non-linear nature of mental health journeys in a way that is both relatable and entertaining. He emphasizes the importance of boundaries, both in general and within the performer/audience relationship, and delivers this message with both compassion and vulnerability. 

While at times the structure of the show, which intentionally parallels a mix of therapeutic techniques, veers precipitously close to feeling like a self-help seminar, Green consistently manages to pull the focus back to the humour and keeps the audience engaged. Throughout his performance, he invites the audience to wander back through his life, covering his youth, travels with his partner (now wife), his terrible dates, his anxieties about his anxieties,  and how love can soothe even the most uric of humiliations… or perhaps not? Green’s wife features heavily in his set, and her support and insight are evident in the language he uses as well as in the depth of the personal struggles he shares. The show is hilarious. And yes, rather self-deprecating. But with a comprehensive side of introspection and cognitive-behavioural therapy. 

Green manages to create a safe and comfortable space for his audience, encouraging them to engage with his material and even participate in his jokes. However, as with any live performance, there are always the occasional drunken hecklers who are keen to disrupt the show. Fortunately, Green is well-equipped to handle these situations, using his quick wit and not-so-bad-boyish charm to disarm and get the show back on track. What’s particularly impressive about Green’s handling of hecklers is that he manages to do so without resorting to aggression or humiliation. Instead, he uses his own vulnerability and openness to connect with the hecklers and defuse the tension in the room. By acknowledging their presence and using their interruptions as fodder for his jokes, he manages to turn potential disruptions into laugh-out-loud moments of genuine connection with his audience.

Green’s ability to use humour to explore his own struggles with mental health is truly remarkable. With I’m Happy You’re Here, he manages to construct a brilliant and entertaining psychological lesson centred around boundaries between performer and audience, and folding in the narrative of his personal journey and the therapeutic work he has put in. The audience is left with a lasting message about respecting personal boundaries as well as the importance of compassion and vulnerability in both comedy and life.

While difficult to explain in a review without spoiling the magic that is central to Green’s show, I think it’s important to highlight how astonishing it is to watch him deliver, in real time, a meaningful  experience for the audience that mirrors his own years-long personal development. In contrast to many other stand-up shows I’ve seen, Green is deftly giving the audience the opportunity to learn some uncomfortable lessons, but with the addition of both gentleness and a hilarious insight that he most likely did not afford himself during the process.

Brendon Green’s I’m Happy You’re Here is a must-see comedy show that pushes boundaries and breaks new ground in the genre. It’s a raw and beautiful lesson that both entertains and educates, leaving the audience with a deep appreciation for the power of humour to heal and connect us all. I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for a fresh and insightful take on the comedy genre.

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