Chloe Petts @ Pleasance Courtyard
How You See Me, How You Don’t is an hour of slick and streamlined stand-up from Chloe Petts
The main thread of How You See Me, How You Don’t, Chloe Petts’ third hour on the Fringe, is one of self-image and internet trolls, the kind who only emerge from their sweaty bedroom dungeons to shout at women broadcasting about football.
Petts journeys back to her youth, regaling us with tales from her school days – pencil cases, being Head Girl – which feel fresh and zippy (a feat in itself during the Fringe), whilst talk of bullies comes from both the present and past. The comic’s impressions of her favourite Sky Sports presenter are a real highlight (“I’m screaming”, she deadpans), as are Petts’ brief glances at her so-called dainty hands.
Her confident stance and command of the room (including the horny stranger in the front row) tells us Petts has truly arrived as a comedian. The show is well-honed, but loose enough that she can be distracted by characters in the audience. Little time is wasted, even when she follows a newly-tattooed guy back to his seat.
How You See Me... hangs together superbly as an Edinburgh hour and (presumably) as several standalone club sets. It tackles difficult themes without trauma-dumping and leaves you feeling uplifted as you exit the room. It’s a joy to be here in Petts’ company: to see her joyful and accepted by family and friends, and to witness such a streamlined hour of comedy.
Smartly crafted and dense with punchlines, Petts is in her Premier League era. This could well be in the top hours of straightforward stand-up on the Fringe; a crowning hat-trick for her third festival appearance.
Chloe Petts: How You See Me, How You Don't, Pleasance Courtyard (Forth), until 25 Aug (not 14), 7pm, £10-£15