Perri Cassie is a difficult performer to pinpoint. While having a well-thought-out and unique voice of his own, he also manages to juggle storytelling, one-liners, puns and misdirection all in one hour. He's ambitious, to say the least, but his show may fall on the rougher side of 'too much of a good thing'.
While Cassie is well aware that his comedy may not be for everyone, the biggest issue with Secondhand Bubblegum is one of structure, not quality: the comic flip-flops between narrative and standalone material make it difficult to distill a core idea from the performance. Cassie is very adept at both transitional and static joke telling, but when he muddles the two together it's hard to find the groove of the show.
Though his performance may have some thematic issues, Cassie is one of the most natural and honest performers around. At no point does his persona feel forced or insincere and it's in this self-awareness that Secondhand Bubblegum finds its eventual traction. His jokes are polished and crafted to an almost-insane degree, to the point where his delivery is almost faultless.
Cassie is a giving comic, offering up a plethora of styles and jokes during his time on stage. And while the show has moments of blurriness, it's hard not to smile throughout.
Perri Cassie presents Secondhand Bubblegum until 22 Apr at Trades Hall, part of the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
