Grainne Maguire's One Hour All Night Election Special

Review by Tony Makos | 22 Aug 2013

It's 2.45pm on a rainy afternoon, and there's no better time to experience a love letter to everyone's favourite event in the political calendar: election night. As we enter the claustrophobic tin can that is The Wee Coo, we're already placing votes in ballot boxes based on some broad manifesto statements that quite frankly, could mean anything at this point. Maguire bursts on to the stage, a ball of geeky nervous energy. She weaves her self-deprecating teenage political fantasies into a mock election narrative, accompanied by some bad Photoshop, video footage, wonky flip charts and a sizeable amount of audience participation.

This is democracy in action, after all. With an appreciation for Cherie Blair that is as questionable as it is infectious, McGuire compares her life's achievements and endeavours to mini-elections, as we hear about the constituencies she's won, and the many she's lost, while the framework of the show hangs gently on an election of our own and how the results reflect the kind of people we are. There's so much squeezed into this show that it almost falls apart more than once, and while many of the references go over the heads of the less politically savvy audience members Maguire's relentless enthusiasm powers it through to a rather touching finale. Grainne wins my support – by a landslide.

Grainne Maguire's One Hour All Night Election Special, Underbelly, until 25 Aug, 2.45pm, £8.50/£7 http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/grainne-maguire-s-one-hour-all-night-election-special