“How can I make YOU funny?” - By: Krissy Berkholtz

How far can we go before we break? What is the limit to what a comedy act can offer an audience of people seeking temporary relief from their reality? Punch Up explores these exact questions as we follow our main character Pat, “the funniest man alive”, played by Justin Spurr. As he finds himself trapped in a difficult situation where he's forced to reconcile with the question: How can I make someone funny when nothing is funny to me anymore? Each aspect of Punch Up was explored through stark contrasts in cuts with its lighting and audio design choices, leaving the audience in complete captivity of the performers as they whipped around corners, leaving us trying to guess what will happen next. Throughout the play, the history of slapstick comedy integrates itself into the story and acts as a mini history lesson. Leaving you with a heart warming, wacky feeling and more knowledge than what you entered with. Physical comedy and character chemistry- or rather- what appears to lack of is on full display from a standout performance from Duncan, played by Ryan Mattila, who performs the best of both worlds: the openness to abandon reality at the door and throw themselves into the chaotic weirdness of a character but still sustain the grounded moments of reality, showing the stakes of the story. It was a masterclass to see these three actors perform alongside each other, bringing a hilariously dire set of situations to light with its generosity and desire to be loved as much as you love someone else. Punch Up explores how love, death, and humour can inspire you to be a better person and abandon the harshness of our reality, even for just a moment of peace among chaos to have a good laugh.