Review by Eli Cairns
Now this is a me(a) time combo.
In a dazzling and successful comedy fest debut, M.E.A. Culpa brings you Meghan Fisher, Elena Smith-Beech, and Anna Dobbie’s explorations of their own carefully procured collection of errors in an hour of quirked out bliss. Proving to be as eclectic as they are funny, these three comedians make damn sure to have something for everyone; whether you like complaining about your Jetstar flight, being a really enthusiastic ally, or hanging out with nice and creepy Victorian dolls, this lineup will find a bundle of jokes and gags that are perfect for your audienceship (and anyone else you bring along).
With three different and well-manicured sets ready to go, these stand ups deliver non-stop hilarity while each getting their own time to shine. Most significant about M.E.A. Culpa is how it allows each of its performers to expand upon their greatest tight-five bits; these jokes are tried and true, and if you’ve ever enjoyed them as individual performers you are sure to love them all together — and, just as likely, find something you never knew you needed before.
Elena Smith-Beech is a dry and smart comedian who knows what she wants from her jokes. With a heavy layer of sarcasm balanced out by her own special sparkle of silly, she presents an aura of slightly-better-than-you that comes across as relatable rather than arrogant, pointing out some of the more egregious behaviours of others while indulging us with her own. Cocksure and guffaw-worthy, Smith-Beech’s set builds to a positively jazzing climax that elicits a thunderous applause, and she offers up a big splash of laughter to kick off this show.
If you’ve ever been a little out of sorts in a crowd, Meaghan Fisher (perhaps Fis-them) knows exactly how you feel. With a clever air of awkwardness that makes her strongest jokes sneak up on you in the best of ways, she’s delightfully skilled at finding the perfect set ups to surprising punchlines. Fisher’s set is well constructed and satisfying with its callbacks, and she’s also undoubtedly the perfect bridge between her two comedian companions, placed right in the heart of this show and holding the tone with dry expertise.
Anna Dobbie, delightfully strange and hilariously deadpan, is a surreal but secure round-out of this lineup. While often outlandish, Dobbie’s jokes lean into the most unique elements of their personality, monotone in delivery but raucous in content. With their trusty and definitely-not-creepy copycat porcelain doll Audrina at their side, they brave the realm of unscripted audience interactions under the guise of improving their own smalltalking abilities. Dobbie is a fascination to watch, unassumingly charming in all of their quirks, and a brilliant performer on stage who’s on the hunt for the most absurd laughs in this show.
With these three Wellington break-outs serving up their bests, M.E.A. Culpa delivers a world of jokes from comedians of drastically different styles. Fisher, Dobbie and Smith-Beech have somehow found a way to comfortably complement each other’s sets to present a bold and unashamedly fresh show, which will leave you breathless and wanting for more.
M.E.A. successus!
Disclosure: As a somewhat active member of the Wellington performing arts community, I may be quite familiar with a number of the performers in this show. Having said that, I am not a liar, and there is zero bias in my reviews, shut up.
Also, tickets were provided to me for free by the production. Literally changes nothing, though