At the unconventional intersection of stand-up comedy and the therapist’s couch lies Shrink Wrapped: A Psychologist Analyses Comedians, Live on Stage. Not only does it have one of the longest titles in the Adelaide Fringe, but it’s also one of the more innovative offerings.

The premise is simple: three comedians perform a comedy set on a predetermined theme, then submit to a live group therapy session.

Created and hosted by award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins, the show combines comedy with psychotherapy from behavioural specialist Katie Baylis. Joining Perkins on Friday night were international comedy sensation Laura Lexx and Australian comedy sensation, and mama’s boy, Ethan Cavanagh.

The first half was a dynamic and hilarious stand-up showcase with sets centred on the theme of parental relationships. The trio leaned into this with the added frisson of knowing that every joke, pause, and nervous twitch would be examined under Baylis’s microscope. Then the analysis began, and chaos ensued.

Baylis approached the task with curiosity rather than clinical detachment and with more than a few laughs along the way. She drew connections between the comedians’ familial relationships and their choice to become comedians. Pivotal revelations were experienced, resulting in each performer spiralling at one point or another with hilarious results.

Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, the show kept its sense of humour firmly intact.

Perkins’s quick wit kept the room laughing notwithstanding her obvious shock at Baylis’s exploration of her relationship with her parents and her “sex pest” grandfather. Lexx’s self-deprecating humour and preference for dogs over children provided fertile ground for Baylis. While Cavanagh’s sharp quips, the youngest of four, mummy humour was compounded by his mum’s presence in the audience. When mum jumped on stage, the laughs didn’t stop, and everything about Cavanagh suddenly made total sense.

Stand-up often draws upon life’s awkwardness. Shrink Wrapped explored this without draining the jokes of their magic. The format thrived on unpredictability. The conversations evolved in surprising directions, creating moments that were both insightful and funny.

Among the many curiosities of the Adelaide Fringe, Shrink Wrapped proved itself a real gem. If laughter is the best therapy, make an appointment for the most entertaining session in town.