one4review | On 06, Aug 2025

Zainab Johnson is an American stand-up comedian, actress and podcaster, making her Fringe debut and judging by the near capacity venue tonight, there is an air of anticipation. Zainab is a confident performer and talented story teller. She has a presence and is immediately engaging.

Right from the top of the show we are informed that Zainab owns a gun. This announcement is met with a mix of surprise and, well silence. An explanation is required and an explanation is forthcoming. It is a very funny tale of taking, possibly ill advised advice from friends, and apparently women living in a house are in danger. It must be true, we are told, as Google finishes your sentence!

This may well be a comment on living in America in 2025 or on the safety of a woman living alone in America in 2025. Either way Zainab is a brilliant and very funny story teller.  She paints a picture of her life in her neighbourhood, her experience of online dating, including casually mentioning that she has a gun, to dates that aren’t going as well as expected!

There is a hilarious story of Zainab’s attachment to an initially unwanted house visitor in the form of an Opossum. To save you googling, we are told that it is a much more ugly American version, of the much more famous Australian possum.

There is a lovely explanation of why Eugene the Opossum has a considerable chunk of the show dedicated to him. Very clever, funny and charming end to the show.

****
Reviewed by Margot

Pleasance Courtyard (Above)
Until August 24th @ 18:40