Outstanding debut of wit and emotion
Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) JJJJ
Spanning several popular stand-up themes – a young comic kicking against an older relative’s regressive views; that same comic returning to spend an enforced period of adulthood with their parents; an outsider’s perspective on contrasting cultures; and confronting a life-changing personal setback – Janine Harouni’s debut still manages to be an organic masterpiece of storytelling, rich in fond detail, intricately woven together.
A jobbing actor living in the UK for seven years, she’s from Staten Island, New York, raised in its blue collar, religious, outspoken and conservative traditions, exemplified by her parents’ views on sex before marriage and her father’s homophobia. Partially of Arab stock, but passing as an Italianamerican, she’s been oddly privy to Islamophobia since 9/11. And having seen a bit of the world, she’s converted to a liberal perspective, ensuring that she frequently butts heads with her family. Even so, her parents confound their stereotyping, with Harouni’s feelings towards her father in particular complicated by his good deeds, extending to some exceptional altruism. When tragedy strikes, the family instinctively pulls together. But some differences still need to be bridged.
As origin stories go, Stand Up is an absolute belter, with Harouni covering plenty of ground in her unhurriedly paced, surefooted account. Characters are brought vividly to life
JAY RICHARDSON
JAY RICHARDSON
out of ideas long before his 45 minutes conclude.
Until 25 August, Today 17:45 through their actions rather than cluttering exposition. And her sardonic wit capably offsets the emotional tug of its latter moments. Previously known as part of sketch trio Muriel, her fast rising standup career seems destined to instantly eclipse it. She might imply that living in the UK has jaded her into comedy but she demonstrates plenty of the dramatist’s art in this uplifting and very funny hour.
Until 25 August. Tomorrow 5:45pm
substances figure strongly in Burch’s account.
She goes in search of the former and ends up with the latter, gets off her tits, then shows off her tits. Along the merry way, she pulls off handbrake turns into musings on the magical negro trope and the tainted legacy of Michael Jackson.
In the end, her tale is not actually that spectacular – it’s an extended, entertaining festival war story which doesn’t particularly dovetail with her side recitations.
But the content is only part of the Desiree Burch experience – her ultraconfident delivery, powerful charismatic presence and eloquent ability to entertain and educate at the same time is what makes this another absorbing hour in her whirlwind company.
FIONA SHEPHERD
Until 25 August. Today 19:40