Uniquely half-play, half-standup, Laughing Matters emblematizes the meaning of true, original, thought-provoking theatre. I’m not quite sure how Chris (played by Alec) manages so successfully to deliver in equal parts both comedy and grief-driven melancholy, but he does.
He is convincing as both an on-the-rise standup and ailing boyfriend left trying to navigate life in the wake of his girlfriend’s sudden death.
The narrative itself is a triumph where it tells a moving story about how humour can be used to navigate loss and understand grief. Chris feels and appears alone in his psyche, but I know that we, the audience, are right there with him through every laugh and every cry: a product of Alec’s masterclass in character depth and development.
The show is an undeniable Fringe must-see.
