Words: Alex Grunberg

Fiona Allen fills her one-hour comedy special with observational humour, taking on parking garages to catty school moms, the frustrations of camping trips to the fad of DNA testing. A light show that jumps between ideas covering various aspects of this comedian’s life, Allen engages with her audience through great facial expressions and a candid self-awareness.

Stand-out moments in the show involved her impressions and accent work. She captures the snarky passive aggression of mean-girl moms and their backhanded compliments, as well as the self-important airs of outdoorsy men ready with unasked for advice. Particularly memorable characters include her housekeeper and mother, strong personalities that Allen fully embodies in her work. The housekeeper’s blunt judgements and her Spanish mother’s shifting accent amused us all, but her acting skills could have been used more throughout.

Allen performs with quirky humour to her supportive audience in an at turns whimsical and cutting look at her personal and family life. 

Fiona Allen: On The Run
Pleasance Courtyard, Upstairs
16.15
11-20 Aug