one4review | On 11, Aug 2024

It has been a while since I have seen Elaine Malcolmson on stage but that was put right when I saw her latest offering Joik.
Northern Irish, but living in Glasgow has always been a purveyor of stories, funny stories obviously, delivered in an almost dead-pan style, rather than a joke cracking clown, but she does write well, both for herself and for TV and radio shows as well, a point illustrated by a series of VT clips on screen.
The gentle warm up covers many topics, sound spillage into room, the usual structure of an hour show, understanding and obedience to the Covid rules, while government officials didn’t, present buying for Xmas and birthdays and so on.
Elaine likes snow and loves reindeers. She thinks that these are her spirit animals so when her partner adopted a reindeer for her as a Xmas present, she was delighted. Some one ‘got’ her and it wasn’t an AI algorithm.
The story of Berlin, her reindeer, who corresponded with her, her trip to visit him, and associated offers formed a large part of the story. There is also a selection of Sami language that would be welcome additions to everyday usage as she entertains the crowd throughout.
If you only like gag a minute comedy, then maybe this is not the show for you, however if a well written story is more you thing then maybe check this out.
****
Reviewed by Geoff
Gilded Balloon Patter House The Penny
19.40 to 20.40
Until 26th August (not 12th)