one4review | On 18, Aug 2023

Australian (that’s important) comic Ange Lavoipierre has apparently been getting reviews with lots of ‘bewildering’, which is not entirely fair. The show starts in a legible place, and ends, almost precisely one hour later, at the end of its narrative arc, also in an intelligible place. Nothing bewildering to it.

Ms Lavoipierre’s particular stand-out skill is in making everything that comes out of her mouth look and sound like she’s just thought of it. It’s hilarious, and it underscores the absurdity: even she doesn’t know entirely what’s going on or what might happen next. Another particular delight is her affinity for the absurdity of the mundane, and her ability to spin it into an hour-long show which doesn’t drag, coheres, and where the ending makes you cheer.

In short, Ange can’t sleep, and neither her brain not the internet are predisposed to be helpful. The show’s about dealing with that. From the opening sketch Ms Lavoipierre establishes herself as a considerate performer, involving the audience, but checking before going all in, and she keeps that rapport going throughout. There are lots of niche references in this show, and though I didn’t get them all, things were still funny and the whole thing enjoyable and Ms Lavoipierre does – while in character – explain some of the more geographically specific references, and makes that funny too.  This is a lovely piece of absurdist comedy from a woman with funny bones.

Reviewed by Laura

Underbelly George Square
16:20 (1hr)
Until 27th