Sacher’s show balances a charming DIY aesthetic with surprisingly high-tech elements. He precariously hangs a TV screen monitor around his chest as if strapping in a baby, while his complicated yet undeniably impressive camera boom helmet, held together with cable ties and resembling a makeshift satellite dish, looks like it could fall apart at any moment.
There are interactive moments, including Sacher attempting to guess which men in the audience are circumcised, a bit of cheeky fun that despite good intentions treads the line of putting his audience in an uncomfortable position. He also invites the audience to absolve themselves of sin, building a playful camaraderie.
Promising Young Mensch leans heavily on dick jokes and cricket, but what else would a 12-year-old talk about? While it does verge on the juvenile, the show takes a sharp turn in its final moments when Sacher reveals that his Jewish school was implicated in the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. Suddenly, everything clicks into place and this becomes something more than just a comedy show.
One moment, we’re laughing at juvenile, silly jokes; the next, we’re in a serious discussion about the loss of innocence and institutional abuse, but only briefly, as the show ends shortly after. The shift is jarring, leaving the audience scrambling to keep up. A little more finesse in how the show builds to this revelation and the time spent on it, would help it land with greater impact.
Promising Young Mensch is a promising work that is charming, inventive, and full of potential. With tighter direction and a smoother narrative arc, it could evolve into something truly special.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until Sunday 6 April | 7.00pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $33 Full | $25 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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