Luke Leonard: Man Up (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

It's no secret that much of the world's greatest comedy is mined from the crevices of misfortune and heartbreak. The most revered comics are often those who take from the darkest trenches of existence and weave a hilarious tale from what they find. While Luke Leonard is an undoubtedly accomplished comedian, it's difficult to describe Man Up as a legitimate "comedy" show.

There are some truly side-splitting moments in Leonard's tale of growing up and watching his family descend into tragedy, but the story itself is so harrowing - and told with such intense emotional gusto by Leonard - that the chicaning ride of emotions is a tough pill to swallow. Of course, this is the intention of Man Up, and Leonard, accompanied by the astounding cellist Nikki Edgar, delivers the rollercoaster ride like a pro.

This story is not for the faint of heart, and Leonard knows how confronting and difficult Man Up can be for some. It can easily be argued that a performance like this would be more suited for the Fringe rather than the Comedy Festival, but the uniquely stressful monologue is ingeniously heightened by its MICF context.

There may be more tears of the non-joyous kind than might be expected for MICF, but those who surrender to the ride will come out completely changed. A truly inimitable and distressing tale, Leonard's soliloquy is a great vehicle to show just how wonderfully diverse this festival can be.

Luke Leonard presents Man Up till Apr 23 at the Imperial Hotel, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.