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Mathew Hespe
Pretty Thai for a White Guy
Pulp Bar, Corrs Lane.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five Stars
In a side alley off Little Bourke St, tucked in next to Berlin Bar, Pulp plays host to Mathew Hespe’s show Pretty Thai for a White Guy.
Walking onto the stage as casually as anyone can Hespe announces
“Normally, I back announced myself, but I couldn’t get the mic working. So What’s up? Let’s go.”
“ So a bit about me, I am half Asian. My Mum is Thai, and my Dad is creepy.” he begins, instantly garnering laughs.
And with that Hespe delves into what it’s like growing up in Ringwood in the 90s, the child of a Thai Mother and an Australian Father.
He kicks off telling us his entire team from work are here, so he’s a bit concerned about how things might go for him at his office job tomorrow.
There are a few nerves, but he handles it well, and doesn’t falter. Hespe is the kind of guy that is naturally funny, leaning into his strengths, whilst laughing at his weaknesses.
Growing up in a country where being mixed race is challenging- people will doubt your heritage and dismiss you if you don’t fit their ideal criteria for how you should look, Hespe takes us through his personal experiences of experiencing casual racism. He does so with self deprecating humour, that at times the predominantly white audience aren’t sure if they’re allowed to laugh or not ( which in itself is funny).
Hespe approaches the show with casual confidence, he’s at ease talking about who he is- whether it’s his experience being diagnosed with autism or what it’s like to have a connection to his culture through his Mum, his show is relatable, funny and entertaining.
What he does best is deliver his show with dead pan humour, his expression doesn’t change, and he’s straight faced the whole time- which is sheer brilliance.
He’s instantly the guy you want to be your friend, he’s likeable, earnest and delivers his jokes with such dead pan delivery that you kinda aren’t sure if it’s OK to laugh or not.
Whether he’s casually picking on various audience members or quietly shitting himself that the entire back row are his co- workers he delivers a show that is funny, entertaining and well thought out. He ad-libs at times which he does well, his crowd work is fantastic.
For anyone out there that is mixed race this show is highly relatable and will resonate with anyone that’s been questioned by the whitest person in the room about where they really came from. It’s a fantastic show with one of the most likeable comedians to make his debut at the festival.
Mathew Hespe: Pretty Thai for a White Guy is playing at Pulp until April 19
