Multi-purpose Room 1 of Carlton’s Kathleen Syme Library is set up like a lecture theatre, complete with student desks and the title page of a PowerPoint presentation – “Adapt or Perish: Introverts in the Modern World” – ready to roll on the whiteboard.
Luke Morris scans our tickets on the way in. Then once we’re all accounted for, he welcomes those assembled, thanking us for attending since this hour’s abrupt ending will prevent him from doing so, post-show.
Morris then transforms into his Matt Boring character before our very eyes, struggling to tie his tie and putting on a blazer – both items pulled from Morris’ own closet, we’re told – while outlining the premise of this show: Dr. Lachmann’s lab monkeys have escaped, so stand-in tutor Matt Boring has stepped in at the 11th hour to guide us through his PSY24IGE lecture (using Lachmann’s slides). He then exits the ‘classroom’, before reentering in character.
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Dr. Lachmann – clearly an extrovert – favours wacky transitions throughout his PowerPoint presentation, which frustrates the hell out of his introverted substitute. From discussing Carl Jung’s theories to debunking the scientific validity of Myers-Briggs testing, An Introvert’s Guide To Extroverts is informative edutainment that’s punctuated by regular LOLs. It’s also kinda fun feeling like you might get in trouble for laughing at inappropriate times.
There’s dad jokes aplenty and our laughs/chortles escape of their own will, which is a clear indicator of successful comedy. An Introvert’s Guide To Extroverts is a fantastic way to spend an hour – in an Uncle Arthur’s slideshow kinda way, with a twist of David Brent.
For those who rate oddball comedy performed in repurposed settings, we thoroughly recommend this show.
Sidenote: In his Matt Boring guise, Morris resembles Dr Karl from Neighbours, which tickles our funny bone in itself.
Audience participation: Looking like a diligent student is recommended but, fear not, there’s no question time or anything.
Best bit: Actually hearing the escaped lab monkeys closing in on us throughout the show’s duration – they sound like they’re just outside the corridor!
An Introvert’s Guide To Extroverts runs until 17 April at various libraries.
