SAP

Mae Martin makes a case for finding the sweetness in a chaotic world by treating stand-up like a slightly weird conversation. Walking onto a stage decorated with pine trees, Martin balances modern anxieties with self-mocking stories about family and gender identity. The center of the hour is a sequence mapping the gender spectrum to the characters of Beauty and the Beast. In Martin’s formulation, extreme masculinity belongs to Gaston and Stockholm syndrome to Belle, while they identify with Lumière, the party-hosting candlestick who just wants everyone to feel welcome.\n\nFilmed at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver and released on Netflix in March 2023, the performance came at a transitional point in Martin’s career. They had recently wrapped their television series Feel Good, which established them to a global audience. While their older stand-up shows focused on the mechanics of teenage addiction, Sap takes a broader view. Martin is loose and expressive, showing off a physical presence that keeps the crowd engaged even when the material shifts into quiet moments.\n\nThe set covers personal anecdotes ranging from a childhood encounter with a moose to a specific nickname earned during a teenage stint in rehab. There is also a recurring bit about how embarrassing it is for adults to have bedrooms, comparing human memories to snowglobes that people are forced to show to strangers. Directed by Abbi Jacobson, the show begins and ends with pre-recorded sketches featuring comedian Phil Burgers, establishing a campy atmosphere that carries over onto the stage. Critics praised the show’s composure, noting that Martin’s performance felt like a reassuring response to a difficult few years.