Amy Matthews: Definitions Of Toast comedy review – Slow-burning hour
Amy Matthews allows her anger to snowball into catharsis, packing an emotional punch but taking a while to get there
Try as she may, Amy Matthews can’t get angry. She suffers from alexithymia, a condition that means she experiences a lag in expressing emotions. Over the past few years, she’s had a lot to be angry about. But between a recent autism diagnosis and her first relationship with a woman, things seem to be looking up. And things going right mean that she’s finally able to look back in anger. Definitions Of Toast has a three-act structure, framed around, well, the three definitions of the word toast. It’s a deeply personal hour, which feels like you’re seeing into the cracks and crevices of somebody’s life that you’d usually only be privy to if you read their Substack.
Matthews’ anger slowly builds before being released in an earnest Lily Allen-inspired poem that closes the set. It’s a brave juxtaposition for a stand-up show and well-executed. The hour contains a healthy smattering of nicely crafted gags, with some smart historical references being the funniest and most original elements. But the first half drags, leaving you wondering when the properly funny material is going to kick in. The denouement, however, is absolutely worth the wait.
Amy Matthew: Definitions Of Toast, Monkey Barrel Tron, until 30 August, 3pm; picture: Orlando Gili.