Only If You Love Me review (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

Only If You Love Me is the one-man musical comedy debut from Nic Davey-Greene in which the audience are given full access to the goings on inside his head. It’s a very energetic performance and Davey-Greene has a lovely stage presence with great musical skills, but unfortunately the comedy is where this falls short.

Davey-Greene brings forth plenty of sass and satire in his songs, but a lot of the humour simply doesn’t work. Some of it borders on the juvenile with a whole thing about “titties on giraffes” and another on the appearance of Peter Dutton which undercut stronger moments, such as a song that touches on the genocide in Gaza. It results in a tone that’s more confusing than provocative.

The show seems a bit aimless, like it’s not sure where it wants to go or what it wants to say. Davey-Greene covers things from politics to dating (who randomly turns out to be Cameron Diaz) and microplastics, but there’s nothing linking anything. Without that structure, the momentum fizzles and the gags often feel as if they’re grasping for punchlines rather than building to something meaningful. At times, it comes across a series of half-formed ideas stitched together rather than a cohesive show.

While there aren't many points to give for laughs, his musical prowess is evident switching from multiple guitars and keyboard, and even a harmonica. There are sparks of clever lyricism throughout the number of songs he sings and there is comedic enjoyment in his performance, including his attempt to play numerous instruments at once during his country ballad.

As a debut, Only If You Love Me reads more like a testing ground than a finished piece. But Davey-Greene clearly has something. With tighter writing, a clearer vision, and a polish of material, there’s real potential for him to find his place on the comedy circuit.

Show Details

Venue: The Grace Darling Hotel, 114 Smith St, Collingwood
Season: until 20 April | Tues - Sun 6.15pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $35 Full | $29 Concession | $20 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival