Moss Meunier
Giuseppe’s Love Quest asks a deceptively simple question: what is love? For Giuseppe—a “humble Italian beach boy” who has never been hugged, kissed, or felt truly close to another person—the answer is anything but obvious. Instead, it becomes the driving force behind an hour of playful, chaotic, and deeply engaging comedy that thrives on audience connection.
Performed by Jeromaia Detto, Giuseppe is the perfect vehicle for exploring this question. He is charmingly naive, brilliantly playful, and endlessly curious, bouncing off the audience with great aplomb. From the moment he arrives, there’s an openness to him that invites participation. Giuseppe doesn’t just perform to the audience; he needs them. Their ideas, their stories, and their interpretations of love shape the entire show.
At its core, Detto’s work seems to underline the importance of play and connection in a world that desperately needs more levity. Giuseppe embodies this wholeheartedly. He approaches love with the wide-eyed innocence of someone encountering it for the first time, taking audience advice at face value and running with it – often into hilariously misguided territory. Jeromaia maintains a fantastic balance of feeding off of his audience without ever making fun of them (except perhaps the ones who really deserve it – like anyone defining love as a “blowjob”).
The structure of the show is loose but effective. While there is a clear trajectory – Giuseppe learning about love, relationships, and eventually going on a date with an audience member – much of the comedy comes from improvised vignettes. These moments, inspired directly by audience suggestions about kissing, dating, and intimacy, are where the show truly shines. Giuseppe’s frequent misinterpretations are a consistent highlight, turning everyday concepts into absurd physical and emotional detours.
That reliance on the audience does, however, come with its challenges. On the day I attended, the crowd was somewhat hesitant, offering less enthusiastic participation than the show ideally thrives on. Yet Detto handled this admirably. His quick wit and natural charm ensured the pace never lagged, and he remained fully committed throughout, deftly navigating drunken heckles with his signature humour.
As a performer, Detto is a compelling presence. A skilled clown with a big heart, he isn’t afraid to make himself the fool in pursuit of a laugh. Whether leaning into awkward silences, committing to a ridiculous bit, or elevating a throwaway comment into an extended sequence, he consistently finds humour in the unexpected.By the time Giuseppe embarks on his improvised date, there’s a genuine sense of investment from the audience. What began as a silly premise evolves into something surprisingly heartfelt. Giuseppe’s Love Quest is messy, unpredictable, and full of joy – a celebration of connection, vulnerability, and the strange, funny ways we try to understand love.
Recommended Drink: For a wannabe romantic such as Giuseppe, I can only recommend a chilled flute of champagne, alongside a romantic candle and a single rose.
Lamesha Ruddock
Tomek
