one4review | On 11, Aug 2025

American Writer/Performer Jena Friedman combines patriotism with humour and grief in this up and down show that has you laughing one minute and almost crying the next. With some risky punchlines at times, you don’t know what to expect next.

Jena enters the stage and there is no mistaking she is an American patriot but are all things currently socially and politically correct in America, well no! Jena is forthright with her thoughts on Donald Trump and several other topics of conversation currently prevalent in America, and with some unexpected yet sharp humour, this lady does not hold back.

Jena then changes the mood and goes back a few years to when she was pregnant but instead of it being a wonderful experience, it became the most traumatic experience of Jena’s life. She receives some unexpected and heartbreaking news just weeks before she was due to give birth and her world collapses.

Moving on to parenthood, Jena dissects the ugly side of being a mum and how she and her husband cope with it, again she manages to bring some humour into a stressful situation. When her father starts dating other women, Jena uncompromisingly gives them a vetting and discovers most of them have a shady background!

The essence of this show is its two shows in one, a comedy and a personal story of someone trying to come to terms with grief. The comedy is sharp and witty with some clever thought-out comparisons, however a lot of the jokes are related to America and if you’re not American or not up to speed with American politics, you might not get some of the punchlines.

The underlying story of  someone learning to live with heartache, is there to see as its one of the most emotional performances I’ve seen from a comedian who genuinely looked hurt but has carried on to make those she knew proud of what she has achieved in life.

****

Reviewed by Steve J

Monkey Barrel – Hive 1

16.15 (1hr)

Until 24 Aug