Review – Jon Bennett: Fire in the Meth Lab

There is tension in the room as you enter a makeshift meth lab, Jon Bennett seated in a tattered brown coach wrapped in yellow police tape, waiting for you.

In the next hour Jon drags you into the murky depths of his family’s history: awkward and shame-laden revelations of sexuality, bullying, drugs, an unhealthy obsession with Jason Donovan, all absurdly juxtaposed against the purity of Jon’s devout Pentecostal parents. Despite the extreme nature of events, we can all relate on some level to Jon’s childhood experiences.

This hobble down memory lane is not without purpose – Jon is here to try and understand his self-sabotaging older brother Tim’s addiction to meth. Jon builds a rich picture of his brother’s character, refusing to withhold the worst of Tim’s miscreant behaviour, but complicating things with details of Tim’s rare moments of benevolence.

There’s something dangerous about Jon’s comedy; he delivers an overdose of honesty that makes him vulnerable. You find yourself worried about the repercussions for Jon sharing this intimate story with you – how will Tim react?

Jon Bennett sets the gold standard in storytelling. This show is powerful, brutally honest, and drenched in the rich humour of pathos. This is unlike any other show you’ll find at the festival. Get your hit of raw and real comedy. This is my pick of the festival so far.