one4review | On 19, Aug 2024

Alison Larkin’s “Grief: A Comedy” is a masterful blend of humour and heartbreak, capturing the fragility of life with an improbably funny yet deeply moving narrative. Larkin, an English-American comedian, takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions as she recounts her journey of adoption, finding her American birth mother, and eventually truly falling in love for the first time in her 50s. Her love story, with an Indian climate scientist, is tender and life-affirming, a beacon of hope that is abruptly extinguished by his sudden death.

She has a wonderful voice and accompanied by Gary on the piano, she delivers a very memorable performance that really touched a nerve with myself and the audience. In fact, there’s a lightbulb moment in this show that will stay with me forever.

Larkin’s brilliant range of accents and her ability to switch between them effortlessly adds a layer of authenticity and charm to her storytelling. She brings to life not just her own experience, but the voices and characters of those around her, making the audience feel intimately connected to her world. The show, which Archbishop Desmond Tutu encouraged her to create, is more than just a comedy; it’s a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected twists of fate. Larkin’s performance is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, leaving the audience moved to tears, yet strangely uplifted. “Grief: A Comedy” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, making it an unforgettable theatrical experience.

****1/2
Reviewed by Gavin
Assembly George Square Studios-Studio Two
14.10 (1hr)
Until 25th August