Susan Murray's Photo Booth

Article by Simon Fielding | 09 Aug 2011

This thoughtful, energetic show fuses affectionate memories of friends and family with chilling, turbulent tales of stalkers and riots. Stragglers shuffle in to Stand IV from the downpour outside as the opening sequence takes us through a montage of photo booth backdrops, allowing Murray to make briskly delivered observations about 1970s curtains before crafting them into insightful jokes about her Midlands/Scottish background.

The photo booth screen is integral to the momentum of the set. Every picture telling a story, it is engaging to see the backdrop releasing a degree of flexibility in the performer. Murray is an able and warm raconteur, and the succession of images and associated anecdotes allow her to generate a jovial interactivity with the audience throughout the hour. Content wise, there is a gradual shift from friend-based reminiscences to darker, intensified pivotal points later on. The tale of a stalker manages to be simultaneously hilarious and horrific, whilst a delicately balanced piece about departed friends is funny and tender without being sentimental.

Enter the booth now.  

Susan Murray's Photo Booth, The Stand Comedy Club IV. Aug 5-28 (not 15): 17.55, £8

http://www.thestand.co.uk