Rosie Wilby is a funny lady. That is clear from the very beginning. She hits you with fast-paced observational comedy, mixed with a very healthy whack of quirkiness.
The title of the show is regularly referenced and there are some wickedly cutting jokes and wonderful takes on sexuality, same-sex marriage and general human behaviour in relationships. Of course this is a stand-up comedy show and not a heated dispute, so the question remains unanswered, but we are led a very merry journey through pondering it. From minute number one you are drawn straight in and, together, you’re off!
However, the brakes were constantly applied via the medium of props. A flip-board with sketches on that were often no more than a one-off reference point and on a couple of occasions too small to clearly see from beyond the first two or three rows. It was both a distraction and a shame. Some statistical percentages on the board, at one point, raised a titter, but then Rosie returned to her patter and we were laughing with gusto. In short, Rosie is funny, her flip-board not so much.
As well as this over-sized sketchpad, there was a megaphone that was needlessly and extremely briefly used and a packet of Corn Flakes for illustrating a foreseeable cereal/serial gag (the packet was on display throughout) and for the feeding of a solitary flake.
Rosie’s delivery, away from the distractions, is fantastic. Her personable whimsy is so amiable and has the audience just where she wants them, on the edge of their seats, hanging on her words for the next twist to her tales and takes on life. There is no doubt she has a brilliant and natural comedy mind and future – things for Rosie will be just fine – she simply needs to be confident of that and be the one and only focus we have on the stage.
What should have been the audience participation to end the night on a high was again based heavily around the flip-board. One audience member at the back had to call out, “what’s the question?” (that was written on the board) and sadly a show that began with great verve and promise ended with a feeling of wanting more – but more of Rosie, a very funny comedian with a microphone, and nothing else.
