Words: Kiera Harper
Image: Ray Burmiston
4 Stars
Emma Doran’s Edinburgh Fringe debut with stand-up show Emmaculate is brilliantly witty and relatable to women of all ages.
Leaving nothing unsaid, Doran unpacks life in a blended family, with a special spotlight on women. The comedy show starts by introducing us to Doran’s mum, who loves her house to be immaculate and picking up on Emma’s dad for using the downstairs toilet. Emma expresses that she was nervous to speak to her mum after her comedy show, only for her mum to be grinning over ‘the character’ Emma created about her, which she still laughs at along with the audience today.
Emma then focuses on being a teen mum. She hilariously recounts how she got pregnant and the many ‘of its time’ moments that happened to her, which made the woman next to me stop breathing out of laughter. Being a teen mum, Emma slowly began to panic about what her daughter would be like as a teenager. It turned out she had no reason to worry as her daughter became her own person, and studied for a PhD, which Emma initially thought was a drug. At the end of the show, Emma emphasises that she wants her family to stay weird, especially her daughter, since she knows oddity is picked out of girls early on. By saying this, she reminds the women in the audience to celebrate their weirdness, as it makes the world a lot funnier.
With some sprinkled in jokes about her sons as well, Emmaculate feels like a love letter to the women in Emma Doran’s life. Emma’s affection shines through as she hysterically pokes fun at the wonderful women she loves, and with little lulls in the show, you’ll have a fabulous night with great walk in music and even better laughs.
Emma Doran: Emmaculate
Pleasance Courtyard – Beside / Cabaret Bar
5th – 30th August (no performances on the 12th, 19th and 26th)