It’s four in the afternoon in the basement of a gay bar, the mic has cut out and at one point the backdrop disintegrates, but Mary Bourke shines throughout. From the outset, Bourke refuses to pander to any comedic gimmicks, informing the audience this will be a “Joke TKO” and she doesn’t disappoint. She uses a mixture of humorous observances (Rosé really IS liquid shame!) and anecdotes which are intermingled with high brow literary and cultural references and, conversely, bald-faced filth. Despite the intimate surroundings, Bourke commands the room and takes everything in her stride, her only failure perhaps being the section on tweets which didn’t always translate. An absolute gem of the free fringe; catch it while it’s free.
The Street, 6 – 29 Aug, 4.00pm (5.00pm), free, fpp115.
tw rating 4/5
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Sections: by Emily Carson - ED2011 Comedy Reviews - tw rating 4/5 | Tags: Mary Bourke, PBH's Free Fringe
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