one4review | On 11, Aug 2024

A packed venue, multiple cameras filming proceedings heralded the arrival of Harriet Kemsley to the stage. The scene is set for her hour.
Bounding onto her stage it is fair to say that Harriet grabs the attention from the get-go. She has a bubbly, smiley, energetic personality that flows from her to engulf the audience, and seems to be desperate to share her thoughts at a hundred miles an hour.
TV appearances a plenty under her belt, Harriet’s friends tell her she doesn’t do women any favours as she always lets them down. She decides to do Celebrity Mastermind to prove them wrong, and the anecdote of this experience, like most of what she says, draws laughs throughout.
She is sometimes ditzy, catching the wrong ferry for a gig, for example, appealing her Uni degree, the potential use of Bear spray as examples but comes across as a likeable person.
As recently divorced and with a child, this situation is food for much material, and Kemsley exploits this admirably, without too much rancour. There is dating apps, health conditions and guru Dave, who prompted this show title, previous relationship and more are somehow packed into her hour,
**** ½
Reviewed by Geoff
Monkey Barrel 1
18.10 to 19.10
Until 12th August