The PowerPoint comedian is back with a powerful best-of show
A comedian who has well and truly made a name for themselves in Australia, Lou Wall is an award-winning standup known for their musical comedy and funky PowerPoint presentations. Having just made the leap over to London, Wall’s latest career move is off to a roaring start.
The Bisexual’s Lament is Wall’s freshest offering, following the worst year in the comedian’s life. Although containing tremendous career success, this year also brought Wall great personal trauma, with a sexual assault, a family member’s dementia progressing and most notably, a breakup.
Wall contends that rather than tragedy + time = comedy, comedy should be performed at the time of tragedy. They use this point to build the show around their tumultuous year and all the things that made them laugh. Narrowing them down to just 69 (which gives a good idea of the tone of this show), we are taken through these moments of laughter.
Although coined as a new work, this production re-uses substantial material from previous shows, making it closer to a best-of collection. This also makes it the perfect choice for new audience members, but less titillating to any Wall fans who may have heard this material before.
However, these gags are being reused for a reason, they’re some of Wall’s best work. A hilarious song about using Facebook Marketplace to get rid of a bed is a standout, making the audience shriek with laughter as the story picks up pace.
The songs are the strongest sections of the set, with Wall’s well-timed rap pairing perfectly with slick PowerPoint transitions. Their stand up is looser and more casual, endearing them to their audience as they seamlessly weave in the good with the bad.
Part of the show structure requires Wall to show the audience second-hand memes and videos, as these are some of the things that made them laugh in their time of tragedy. Although undoubtedly funny while scrolling through your social media feed, they are less so being projected on stage while the comedian you’re watching crouches down to watch them with you.
But this is the style of Wall’s comedy, a millennial mix of real life and online, as they relate everything that’s happened in their life to a meme. No friend, lover or family member is safe from these comparisons, all go through the wringer during this high-energy hour.
A triumphant show full of heart, The Bisexual’s Lament is an unfiltered, courageous and hilarious night at the theatre.