Speakeasy, one of two shows stand-up Danielle Ward is performing on alternate nights at the Fringe, starts with the offer of a gin and tonic. After that, just as the lights have gone down and there's no way of leaving unobtrusively, Ward announces that the audience is to be treated to a feminist rant.
As rants go, it is not the most caustic response to pervasive sexism ever found in a comedy set but Ward does make some valid arguments, such as pointing out that Helen Sharman would be better known had she been called Gary Spaceballs.
There are laughs, but often Ward includes things that she obviously finds funny and if the audience does not respond with sufficient enthusiasm, she'll repeat herself, insisting everyone should see it her way. The effect of this is quite discomfiting and some of the resulting laughter could well be an effort to get her to stop, rather than actual amusement.
The subject matter of the show meanders from Ward's own employment history to women in politics before unexpectedly veering into scatological humour that caused nervous titters amongst the audience.
Comedy can be a valuable tool in the fight against prejudice and it is admirable to take a feminist stance at a time when feminism has become a bit of a dirty word. The problem is this show has very little focus, so some of the gags fall flat for lack of context and quite a few others for lack of relevance.
