By Peter Newling
With a French first name and an Italian surname, Novellie was born in South Africa, raised on the Isle of Man and now resides in London. It’s of little surprise that his onstage persona is worldly – more surprising that it is quintessentially British.
Novellie’s schtick is classy, erudite and unwaveringly polite – perhaps a product of his Cambridge education (where he served as Vice President of Footlights). Adorned in suit and tie and pocket handkerchief, he is the polar opposite of unwashed stoner type of comic.
But in no way is this a gimmick or an exaggeration of the thoroughly British, standoffish stereotype. His delivery is warm and engaging. There is nothing caustic or petty in his choice of material or his delivery. It’s quite charming.
Much of his material is based on the impact of autism on his life, and how it informs his choices and decisions. The need for order – to have rules and incentives to follow those rules – is the bedrock of this. His reflections on when this order breaks down – when logic and fairness and reasonableness fail – are absolutely hilarious.
His choices of material to illustrate this are first rate. He covers a fair bit of territory, including his experiences with clothes shopping, being gaslit by algorithms, and his relationship with food. He doesn’t rely on self-deprecation, rather he invites us to see things as he sees them. He has a unique talent for verbal imagery. Every story, like every word, has been carefully chosen.
Novellie’s diagnosis of autism at age 30 led him to write his book “Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?: A Comedian’s Guide To Autism”. That, like his show, encourages us to think about how our lack of empathy toward neurodivergence exacerbates the pain of the condition. This is bought into sharp focus in the discussion on autism loss of life toward the end of the set. It’s eye opening and really powerful.
Must We? marks Novellie’s first appearance at the MICF, and hopefully the first of many. Fans of beautiful turns of phrase, cargo cults and thoughtful material will love this show.
Pierre Novellie – Must We? is playing until April 18 at the Westin – Three, at 7:25pm and 6:25pm on Sundays.
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/pierre-novellie/