one4review | On 07, Aug 2022

I overheard another audience member at the end of the show remark upon the fact that Ms McGrath had chosen to do this show here, I think with the implication that it was a brave and perhaps risky choice. Ms McGrath talks about colonialism and racism, historic and current, personal and institutional, and while history can’t be changed, and it would be much better if Ms McGrath didn’t have those personal experiences in the here and now to draw on for her comedy, her historical commentary isn’t inaccurate, and it shouldn’t be controversial.

The show draws its structure from the mirroring life trajectories of Ms McGrath herself, and her grandmother, who lived under the cruelty of British colonialism, meaning the show is part history lesson and part personal experience. Ms McGrath has a good sense of narrative impetus, using both sets of experience to highlight and draw out elements of the other, and successfully describes a pleasing story arc through the show.

This show could have been rather heavy and ‘hard hitting’ in the hands of a different comedian, but Ms McGrath has a light touch, making awful comments from a racist mother-in-law into something to laugh at, so the full horror can sink in after the show. A well written hour from an engaging performer.

Reveiwed by Laura

Pleasance Courtyard
17:50 (not 15th)