Words: Alex Grunberg
Image: Mindy Tucker

4 Stars

Alexis Gay brings good-natured self-effacement as well as a comedic and complex work ethic spin on the “please like me” persona in her solo show Unprofessional. She enters the stage and plants the seed for the horrifying prospect of failure in the perfectionist’s dilemma of wanting to be the absolute best in an employment situation that is… just the worst. 

This is a personal story that will be relatable to all the gold-star chasers still looking for the high of validation that has not really hit the same since primary school. The depressing reality of the grind is told with a comedic air that is less self-deprecating and more self-critical, as the show becomes a kind of self-imposed performance review of workplace ambition gone wrong. And while not everyone can relate to the specific soul-crushing horrors of Silicon Valley, Gay’s fellow perfectionists well know the pain of never being able to achieve that perfect report card again, the lingering longing of the formerly gifted child who will always be hungry for those gold stars.

Gay’s performance was endearing, and I especially enjoyed her commentary on her use of slides, an integration of media into stand-up that seems very popular at this year’s festival. Gay’s meta-jokes on its usage in corporate environments and her tension over employing it in her show made its inclusion intelligently purposeful and funny in quite a unique way.

A relatable routine featuring a smart and professional comedian. 

Alexis Gay: Unprofessional
Underbelly, George Square – The Wee Coo
16:20
Aug 20-25