2 Stars

**

Eirlys Bellin bounces on stage, totally confident in addressing the audience. She introduces herself as Hayley, a Lancashire lass, who has become an instructional expert on public speaking. This is the linking character for a series of further characters who give their first public speech after taking Hayley’s advice.

The humour in each speech varies. The best material was contained in the final two characters; the tipsy bridesmaid who embarrassingly reveals secrets at the wedding reception; the Venezuelan cleaner giving the eulogy in halting English at the funeral of her former sex obsessed employer.

Eirlys Bellin has undoubted acting talent slipping into each character convincingly but the script is lightweight and the jokes tend to be obvious. The audience smiled rather than broke out in spontaneous belly laughs.

Reviewed by Ben

Venue; Venue Number                  Pleasance Courtyard; V33

Dates                                                  4 to 30 August 2010 (not 16)

Times                                                 15.30 to 16.20

Fringe Programme Page Number: 58