Words: Calum Baxter
Image: Sarah Harry-Isaacs

4 stars

The anticipation was building even before Sophie Duker burst on stage and came bounding down
the aisles to gee up the crowd of a packed-out Pleasance Cabaret Bar. Sophie begins her set by canvasing the audience demographic and then asking us to come up with a single word that best describes her vibe – which she confesses is often in stark contrast to how she wishes to be perceived by others.

This show primarily focuses on confronting head-on her perceived “daddy issues” in a therapy session, on Zoom, with her dad and a therapist called Michelango. Duker uses the word ‘delulu’ which she defines as holding unrealistic beliefs. In a world where reality can be incredibly disheartening, having joy and feeling happy is like defying reality. She explores her fractious relationship with her father and reflects on her mother’s strong character, touching on her hoarding habits and collecting holy water.

In a poignant hour of stand-up, Duker reflects on her own experiences as a queer woman in the dating scene and hardships of securing a sugar daddy in times of austerity. Duker’s own hope for a one-word description of herself was “cool”. It’s clear from the audience’s reaction to this show that she has this quality. She leaves the audience with the advice to embrace their own levels of ‘delulu’.

Sophie Duker: BUT DADDY I LOVE HER
Pleasance Courtyard, Cabaret Bar
19:00
Aug 5-13, 15-25