Kerry Gilbert describes her show as ‘a low-budget one-woman sitcom in a damp smelly cave’. This, to be fair, is exactly what you get. For those of you who have ever watched Hollyoaks, imagine Steph taking a show to the Fringe. Gilbert is not dissimilar – blonde, bubbly and she enjoys being the centre of attention.
The show is an hour of Gilbert doing funny voices and comic characters – impressions of her family, for the most part. The laughs are quite cheap, with plenty of snoring and farting gags. Unfortunately she forgot the order of her own show, had to check what came next and had a mini breakdown off-stage during which time she spoke to a childhood doll. The whole thing was nothing short of shambolic and it was never certain whether people were laughing with or at her.
The premise of the show is that Gilbert had some terrible reviews in Edinburgh 2010 and had to move back home, her career in tatters. The ending is a ‘triumph’ in that she decides to pick herself up and do another show in 2012. It is difficult, therefore, to be unkind to her, but sadly this show is not deserving of a great deal of praise. When reading out some extracts of her past reviews the phrase ‘heartbreakingly poignant’ is used – unfortunately an absolutely perfect description for this year’s show too but not for the best reasons.
There were laughs though, to be fair. Some of the audience enjoyed the farting gags and those with knowledge of 80’s cartoon ‘Jem’ or fans of dogs in human clothing were not disappointed. Ultimately, however, the show filled me with a sense of dread. Expect more trumps than triumphs.
