‘The MaryRobin Show’ Delivers Big Laughs and Bold Moves
From the mischievous grins on the show’s poster to the “may not be suitable for children” warning, The MaryRobin Show makes its intentions very clear: this is going to be fun. And it is!
Created by Deaf artists Elizabeth Morris and Hayley Hudson, The MaryRobin Show is a lively combination of sketch comedy, visual storytelling, and improv. Morris and Hudson are longtime collaborators through Deaf Spirit Theatre, a company they co-founded back in 2015. Presented as part of the Festival of Live Digital Art (FOLDA), their latest show is currently in its Alpha phase, an early stage of development where artists invite feedback to help shape what it becomes.
Anchored by the duo’s unmistakable chemistry, The MaryRobin Show unfolds in a series of short, punchy sketches. There are comedic skits, Shakespearean monologues, ASL storytelling, and many moments of sheer silliness. Their humour leans fully into physicality—big faces, dramatic reactions, exaggerated movement—and it’s genuinely funny. One bit about trying to follow online tutorials got an especially big laugh, likely because it felt all too real. The show’s lightness is part of its strength; it doesn’t aim to be deep, and it knows exactly what it’s doing. At a point, Morris and Hudson go from miming a fiery dragon with audience members to slathering makeup all over themselves. It is reminiscent of a Just for Laughs Gags scene where silly and funny things just seem to keep happening.
And yet, beneath the silliness, there’s skill. One of my personal highlights is Hudson’s Shakespearean monologue performed entirely in ASL with a spoken translation. Later in a post-show discussion, I learned it is signed in a rhythm close to iambic pentameter, which only made me appreciate the craft even more. There’s a lot happening beneath the surface here: not just comedy, but commitment to form, language, and accessibility.
While FOLDA is known for pushing digital boundaries, this particular performance keeps the tech light. Screens play pre-recorded silent comedy clips to warm up the audience until Morris and Hudson are onstage. Later, they are used mostly for transitions and context which keeps the focus on the performers themselves. There is no elaborate set or flashy costumes, and none are needed. The show leans fully on the chemistry and comedic instincts of Morris and Hudson, and the two are in perfect sync throughout the show—a testament to their ten years of collaboration. Their characters are wonderfully expressive and they play off each other with ease, while holding their ground in solo moments too. In one sketch, Hudson’s ability to embody a leopard rather than mimic one is honestly impressive.
The show moves fast and a few sketches do run a bit longer than their punchlines can sustain. But that comes with the territory in comedy. The pace picks up again when audience participation enters the mix, which turns out to be one of the most delightful elements. The room was very responsive, playing well off the performers’ over-the-top facial expressions and rapid fire timing. The whole thing has that sketch comedy feel with a fresh twist where scenes are influenced by Hudson’s and Morris’ inspirations Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. The two really lean into the goofy, exaggerated, and unexpected, and you can tell they are having just as much fun as the audience.
In the end, The MaryRobin Show is exactly what you hope live sketch comedy to be: silly, surprising, a little unruly, and powered by personality. Morris and Hudson are bold, energetic, and charismatic, and the show is no different. It is vibrant, funny, and lovingly assembled by two artists who clearly love what they do and want to bring others in on the fun. If you’re into clowning, improv, or just fun accessible theatre, this is worth catching. And if this is the Alpha version, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
‘The MaryRobin Show’ was presented as part of FOLDA at the Isabel Bader Centre. ‘The MaryRobin Show’ will also be presented in the upcoming TK Fringe Festival as part of The Kick & Push Festival. More information about the show can be found here.
