Kiri Pritchard-McLean @ Pleasance Courtyard

Kiri Pritchard-McLean's ambitious debut show is a triumph.

Review by Polly Glynn | 11 Aug 2016

Women aren’t funny this. Women aren’t funny that. Christ, people do harp on about it, don’t they? Luckily, the sexism in today’s comedy scene is improving slowly but surely, but there’s still a long way to go.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean addresses this topic effortlessly. It’s clear she’s researched well, and she discusses the matter in an intelligent and thoughtful way. Her delivery is so charming and engaging that even discussing racial prejudice in the same breath doesn’t appear hack or misjudged. Not only is her delivery strong, her writing makes the audience hoot as they recognise their experiences of injustice too. To make it an even greater feat, the show features two power cuts and a bunch of her family members in the audience: Mclean remains unphased, even when discussing her ADHD.

This is a storming hour of intellectual chuckles from someone destined for higher praise indeed. If this doesn’t make the Best Newcomer cut, this working comedian’s been robbed.


Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Hysterical Woman, Pleasance Courtyard (This), 3-29 Aug (not 15), 6.00pm, £6-9.50

http://www.edfringe.com