James Mustapic is a seasoned performer. Here he is finishing his Wellington run at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival to a packed crowd. He knows what he is doing. We fall in love with his Mum again.

This is a follow up show from James Mustapic his Mum a New Man. We find out how his Mum’s relationship is going, investigate the two broadcasting standards complaints, and generally tour Mustapic’s life between 2023 and now.

The relatability of the Mustapic family anchors the comedy for us. Inter-generational silliness, sensitive personal information being broadcast, social media reactions – there is plenty for Mustapic to mine for sympathetic laughs. This is a common comedy trope for good reason: it performs a public good in the form of group therapy. Laughing together about trials we share is profoundly, capital G, Good.

Wellington audiences get this better than Tauranga ones – says this reviewer from Tauranga. There’s always a good percentage of performers in the Wellington audience who can’t help but draw attention to themselves with the fullness of their expressive support. Mustapic is heckled – but with supportive messages! This shows the therapy is working. The audience are not just sympathising but empathising, and the extroverts among us do that on the outside.

Mustapic’s delivery is his trademark defiant vulnerable. He does not mix well with men, whereas kooky women welcome him and make him feel safe. Underneath the humour, of course, is the tragedy of a scary childhood, struggling to find connection. Something which even the most confident extroverts can still relate to, and most of us carry some residual damage from. Events like this help us all turn that stuff into love for those around us, especially the younger ones dealing with the same thing. Comedy as an empathy-builder, it should be available for free.

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