Manic Impressive
Magic Moments Dunedin
Friday, March 17
A show about bipolar disorder doesn’t suggest a hilarious night out, but Mid-west American comedian Tristan Miller, a "passive-aggressive manic depressive" manages to mine his mind for moments of mirth.
Anecdotes of living with bipolar disorder are shared with acrobatic silliness, and somehow Michael Flatley, Randy Newman and Frank Sinatra are involved, possibly the only time those three have been mentioned in the same sentence.
With the line "start spreading the noose, I’m leaving today", the dark side of bipolar disorder was touched upon with a truthful yet jovial sincerity.
A bijou crowd filled the Magic Moments theatre with encouraging, if sometimes slightly nervous, laughter.
Miller leaping on a table for a possibly copyright-infringing Gollum drew one of the bigger laughs of the evening.
A slew of impressions followed, including Matthew McConaughey as bailiff, Robin Williams slowing a horse, and a triptych of Andrew Garfield moments that were as stupidly surreal as they were funny.
Miller’s humour is unique and well-constructed, providing an array of jokes and one-liners that elicit laughter and applause from the audience.
His ability to humanise the experiences of those living with mental health issues, avoiding condescension or mockery, invites the audience to empathise and connect.
Review by Simon Henderson
