Comedy Festival 2018: Suren Jayemanne plays second fiddle to his audience in Surenity Now ★★

OVERSHADOWED by a punter and a party next door, Suren Jayamanne’s not feeling the serenity now.

SUREN Jayemanne predicted his own review about half way through his set. Suren: two stars. Jubal: five stars.

It’s never a good thing when the audience steals your thunder, but that’s exactly what happened Thursday night when Jayemanne decided to chat with a man whose legs where falling on to his tiny stage in a snug room of the Mantra hotel. Little did he know that said man would have such a cool name — Jubal — and be really funny to boot.

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Once Jubal entered the picture, Jayemanne didn’t stand a chance. It didn’t help that loud chortles from Cam Knight’s show bled loudly through the thin walls. But rather than take control of the rapidly deteriorating situation as a comic should, Jayemanne surrendered early, admitting he’d “signed this one away as a loss”.

Suren Jayemanne misses the mark in Surenity Now.

Instead of the actual new show, Surenity Now (which Jayemanne assured us was really funny), most of the hour was taken up with Jubal banter and continuous comparisons between our tepid room and tiny audience to Knight’s burgeoning party next door.

When Jayemanne finally got around to some of his prepared content, he was so distracted that he struggled to remember his material. He repeatedly checked his watch, willing the hour to end and needed prompts from the lighting technician.

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There was stuff about “literal” nazis and White Supremacist rallies, tiki lights and “mosque-itos” and a lacklustre section about convicts coming to Australia with one massive loaf of bread. Amid disclaimers that he’s not a “race” comedian, none of it hit the nail on the head on this particular night. But that’s not to say it couldn’t be good in different circumstances.

Over the past three years he’s been seen at MICF, Jayamanne has proved a promising up-and-comer, but Thursday night was not his finest hour.

Before taking a risky punt on Surenity Now, make sure that there will definitely NOT be any Jubals in the house.

Suren Jayemanne, Surenity Now

Mantra on Russell, until April 22.

comedyfestival.com.au