Maria DeCotis’ Emotionally Unreasonable is a mildly funny stand-up routine that breaks every so often into really sophisticated pieces of musical comedy that quickly become a true highlight of the show.
The songs are incredible and this is where her strength lies
It’s very much an anecdotal form of comedy that verges into the political in its explorations of gender and relationships as DeCotis makes some dark observations that focus on the marriage industry. What she says isn’t always funny, but the hard truths that she shares make Emotionally Unreasonable more of a rally than a stand-up routine. This partly comes from her dry and borderline sarcastic delivery that is very common amongst American comics. Matter of fact statements which are disguised as jokes are very difficult to deliver well and engage an audience with, especially in the UK where jokes are expected to have a bit more structure. DeCottis’ one liners don’t always pack the necessary punch, but present an interesting viewpoint.
The songs in Emotionally Unreasonable - in particular the titular number - are the best part of the set, to the point where we start to look forward to the next song as each one ends. DeCotis has a very strong voice and the power that she possesses is incredibly impressive. She performs these big numbers that you’d expect to find on Broadway or in a speakeasy in the 1920s, and are great examples of comedic and musical dexterity.
This stand-up routine is very entertaining. It lacks some energy, but this is mostly due to the style that DeCotis employs that utilises more outrage in her delivery than clear cut comedy. The songs themselves are incredible and this is where her strength lies.
