Kirsty Mann delivers a raw and funny monologue in Skeletons. After over a decade of honing her craft as a comedian, she has finally exposed her secret that she’s been moonlighting as a doctor. Sharing it in a comedy show feels fitting. To the non-elitist, laid back crowds of Perth even more so.
At first, I thought it was just for the plot. Like when comedians start with “so I walked into a fast-food store the other day” and you can tell that it’s just a set up for a punch line. But as Kirsty’s show progressed, she delivered anecdotes that could only come from a source of truth.
Her laughs were delivered with a side of harrowing reality as she recalled her experiences working in the medical field when she put her comedy career on hold in 2020. It was a much-needed reality check for the Perth population, as her teary recollection cast a cloud of empathy on the crowd for a brief moment in the show. It was reminiscent of Hannah Gadsby’s emotive Netflix special Nannette, which was also a tearjerker for me. There is something I love about this raw and honest comedy that doesn’t feign blissful ignorance at the state of the world.
Kirsty Mann, Skeletons.
It’s a welcome contrast to the male-dominant comedic landscape which is overpopulated with guys punching down and profiting off the punchlines about social issues which they in part perpetuate. This new era of heartfelt comedy brings a depth to the otherwise superficial genre of performance. If anything, the juxtaposition between the tearful moments and the laughs makes the latter stand out even more. I still walked out of the show feeling lighter than when I walked in. It had the essential element required in every elite episode stored in the funny file of my brain archives – fart jokes. You’re not considered funny unless you tell them.
If you’re after a comedic monologue that could be attributed to a character from your favourite medical drama, this aint it. If you’re after poignant remarks on women holding positions associated with high status being constantly underestimated, then you’ll find them hilariously delivered in witty packaging.
Kristy’s comedic timing is excellent, with the poise of a seasoned performer. Her character comedy is an artifact for the archaeologists of the future. Even though her Australian accent didn’t meet this standard, I appreciated her respect for the audience in knowing her limits and not bothering to deliver sub-par Australian speech.