Cora Frank: Marriage With Benefits Review by Mariah Girouard
In Marriage With Benefits, actor Cora Frank plays Mai, a German artist who gives a TED Talk about the complexities of applying for a visa in the UK. Donned in a red pantsuit and space buns, Cora plays the character well. She starts by dating in a foreign country as an immigrant to display the rollercoaster of modern-day romance.
Cora shows an understanding of British culture and humor with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, a comedic trope British audiences everywhere love. She juxtaposes dating as someone with a sexy nationality like the French (oh la la!) with what it’s like to date as a German, combined with the shame associated with that part of her identity. As an American, I couldn’t help but relate to this feeling, which is why I jumped at the chance to hop onstage for a mini roleplay when she asked the audience for a volunteer. This was just one of the many times that Cora calls on the audience to participate as she charms them with friendly bits of crowd work and pop quizzes based on British nationality tests.
The show is lighthearted and funny, even in dealing with the difficulties of being an immigrant and trying to assimilate into British society. It isn’t exactly theater, nor is it stand-up, but a hybrid of both genres wrapped into one. Now, let’s get down to funny business. The show is marketed as a “comedy” and for a theatrical piece, it had some funny bits. But if we’re talking about stand-up, Marriage with Benefits lacked the laugh-out-loud quality to be considered part of the comedic genre. The name of the show is also a bit confusing because the show is less about marriage and more about being an immigrant while struggling to pay for a visa and integrate into society.
Nonetheless, the show is entertaining and has some witty bits, with some surprises sprinkled throughout. Cora is a likable performer who does a great job of getting the audience on her side. Additionally, Mai’s character arc is satisfying. So what are the benefits of marriage? To be honest, I’m not quite sure we’ve figured that out, but you can expect green peppers, party hats, and fun facts about British culture that you might not have known otherwise.
