Comedy Review - Grace Jarvis: Just Because I'm Crying Doesn't Mean I'm Not Having a Nice Time
Images courtesy of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Grace Jarvis, sunshine in the form of a young lady who possesses a great ability to light up any room she’s in. Unfortunately, I must’ve been sitting under a rain cloud whilst sitting in the crowd watching her perform at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. The name of her solo show Just Because I’m Crying Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Having a Nice Time has both a truth and a lie embedded in the title. I was crying (on the inside) but I wasn’t having a nice time.
Despite several failed attempts to deliver a laugh-worthy story to the younger generation within the audience, a segment of the show involving her time working at a sex shop was very memorable. Grace incorporates unusual interactions with strangers that stem from being mild to extreme. She sets the scene, explaining the vibe and describing the characters who would either sneak or strut into the store. From being asked for recommendations on the best dildos and vibrators, to having to answer questions on whether a product displayed actually makes a penis become bigger when it’s obvious that she wouldn’t have the answer to those questions. Grace uses her autism within some of the jokes which creates a lighthearted atmosphere and an inclusive space for all people in the room. An example is where she states that the sex shop was the perfect place to work because no one is able to make eye contact which was well-suited for her autism.
Throughout the show she continuously showcases what it’s like to be both a Kiwi/Aussie “kiwassie” in the UK by reliving a handful of stories that involve the general public. Grace jokes about the occasions where she’s been on public transport in the UK and the many things that have gone wrong, such as witnessing a bus driver get locked out of the front of the vehicle meaning that he had no access to the wheel or engine. She explains how he had to grab bins from the front of someone's house, stand on them and climb through the window to unlock the compartment. It could’ve been a short, sharp and funny story to slip into her set but it had lasted for far too long. I understand that it’s crucial to paint a picture for the audience but it’s unnecessary to become Bob Ross when doing so.
Grace sprinkled a few audience interactions during her set, which were ultimately forgettable as they mainly involved the children’s author and illustrator Richard Scarry. Most of the audience were not aware of who this man was, so it made it even more confusing when Grace would ask people what job they had. Some people had a “Richard Scarry job” and others had a “Not Richard Scarry job”. Some elderly people seemed to appreciate the segment but overall it wasn’t a crowd-pleaser.
Just Because I’m Crying Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Having a Nice Time definitely has the potential to evolve into a show within which all generations can find something to laugh at - if Jarvis can tone down the obvious jokes and predictability of her show, and utilise her storytelling skills to create anticipation and surprise.
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Just Because I’m Crying Doesn’t Mean I’m Not Having a Nice Time showed as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. For tickets and more info, click here.