Sometimes, the reckless absurdity of existence throws you into the deep end of life. In instances like those, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. For Luke Ryan, that absurdity meant getting cancer – twice. Amazingly and triumphantly, Ryan created, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo based on his experience. In other words, he chose to laugh.
While an hour long standup show about cancer may not seem like very fertile grounds for comedy, Ryan’s conversational charm and honesty negates any preconceived notions. Although he tackles confronting topics, the material is ultimately humanising without falling into anything too grim. With honesty, wit and warmth, he re-counts a tirade of laugh-out-loud stories from his encounters with cancer. Moving between stealing wishes for his own on behalf of the Make A Wish Foundation, the lighter side of baldness and the perils of dating post-treatment, Ryan manages to take on serious subject matter and twist it into a hilarious pub conversation.
The show’s simple and effective construction moves chronologically through Ryan’s life, primarily focusing on his two cancer episodes, once at 11 and again at 22. As the show goes on, a real connection is established with Ryan. At its best, the show masterfully weaves between evocative, touching storytelling and irreverent jokes. Although obviously extremely well-rehearsed, Ryan’s comedy manages to walk that illusive line that never feels too stilted, or too ragged either.
A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Chemo doesn’t delve too far deep into a philosophical or deeper perspective, but it ultimately doesn’t need to. A gifted man who is literally laughing in the face of life threatening illness is inspiration enough. All in all, Ryan’s show is a well crafted, uplifting performance that shows his promise for the future.
BY JAMES DI FABRIZIO
