Comedy / all-female
Review: What the Frock!, Riproar Comedy
What the Frock’s first show of 2015 was also the first at their new home, Riproar Comedy in Broadmead. The venue is spacious, with a distinctly urban, industrial design – all exposed pipework, concrete and hefty wooden tables.
The sold-out gig was supposed to be held in the dedicated comedy room upstairs: however, a few finishing touches still had to be added and the show went on in the bar instead – which in no way detracted from a superb evening of comedy.
Regular compere Jayde Adams was on spectacular form, wowing the crowd – many of them WTF! newcomers – with her trademark quick wit, sharp comebacks and insistent audience participation and singing.
Thankfully, character comedian Anna Morris and the charmingly conversational Canadian Mae Martin did not let the comedic tempo drop during their very different sets.
Morris (pictured) is an actress and creator of characters, rather than a straightforward stand-up. The situation she composed for the evening was the 2015 Woman of the Year Awards, with two very different finalists. First was Nina, a self-made, hugely confident (or so it seemed) Mumtrepreneur from the Wirral, who developed Babyfit, the workout/gym for mothers. Next, Jane Dough, a nervy, middle-class baker nominated by her customers. The event was presented by Chelsea girl and bridezilla Georgina – a recognisable stereotype, by turns pathetic and terrifying.
The characters were well written and beautifully performed, the desperation at the heart of all three never far from the surface, creating an empathic bond with the audience. Morris could have been a little harsher and sharper in her skewering of her archetypes but, overall, the audience was left wanting more.
By contrast, Mae Martin was herself and only herself – apart from some highly amusing impressions of her mother and her mother’s friends. Her anecdotal set focused mainly on her family and her schoolfriends in Canada. The situations she described were delivered in an off-the-cuff, discursive style and, in the main, were universal in their appeal – the description of a teenage sleepover in particular ringing many bells. But this was not just comedy for the sake of it – serious points were made, about gender, sexuality and self-expression.
A fine evening of comedy once again from WTF!, and one that should gain more regulars for this always impressive event.
What the Frock! took place on Friday, January 30 at Riproar Comedy. For details on future events, visit www.whatthefrockcomedy.co.uk/#!whats-next/cb3i
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