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Luca Cupani: Happy Orphan

 
Rebecca Vines Review by Rebecca Vines 4 Published: 9 Aug 2022 Just The Tonic at the Caves Show Dates: 4 Aug 2022-28 Aug 2022

The title of this show and the sweet, open and slightly goofy face staring at you from the posters should tell you everything you need to know about this show: and stand-up Luca Cupani splashes around in what should be the oxymoronic subject material with a routine at once both deliciously gauche and profoundly moving.

Luca Cupani deserves big audiences and even bigger laughs

The set is essentially an exploration of the death of his mother and how – despite his protestations to the contrary – it affected him. It is an endearingly crafted hour and delivered with a soft and appealing Italian accent which does no harm in help to win over the audience. It shouldn’t really matter that Cupani is performing in his fourth language, but there is something so admirable and vulnerable about making people laugh in your adopted country that it melts our hearts from the outset.

This idiosyncratic comic persona is integral to the progression and success of the piece, which unfolds with plenty of awkward teenaged scenarios and moments of open-mouthed surprise. There is a lovely sense of naturalness in Cupani’s delivery, and it feels as though we are all old friends catching up for a chat. This rather unusual confidentiality pushes the narrative forwards with a greater urgency than most comedy sets: we are so thoroughly invested in the story that we want more information for its own sake as well as for comedy value.

One suspects that Luca Cupani will become an increasingly well-known name in future years, and at this Fringe, certainly deserves big audiences and even bigger laughs.

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The Blurb:

What if your mum's death turns out to be one of the best things that happened to you? The nonsense of Italian bureaucracy and a grotesque email from the cemetery lead Luca to a brief yet untimely encounter with his late mother, ten years after her funeral. No reason to be sad though, as Luca realises that he doesn't miss her at all! Storytelling meets observational humour as Luca entertains us with his sweet, gentle and dark wit. 'Funny and fresh and so, so moreish' **** (Scotsman). Award-winning comedian (So You Think You're Funny).