Josephine Lacey @ Pleasance Courtyard

Josephine Lacey’s forthrightness sparkles on Autism Mama, and it is the basis for both its hilarious peaks, as well as the troughs – prickled by questions of propriety in the presentation of the material as stand-up comedy. Lacey repeats Autism Mama’s title throughout the show, proud of what she has presented, but which reductively may be described as her teaching her youngest son, who has complex autism, to… masturbate. While this is most definitely the narrative, there are bags of pathos and nuance just under the surface of her and her son’s story. 

To call it ‘educational’ is to do the show a disservice. It will open the eyes of many to perspectives that we can barely conceive, delivered by means of one-two punches that serve as enlightening, whilst also shocking, a captive audience. Lacey is a pragmatist, and she delivers her and her son’s story with an unflinching honesty.

Generally, a narrative that needs such breadth leaves slightly less room for any variation in punchline subjects, but Lacey is intelligent in her structuring. Some, featuring her late husband, draw gasps from the crowd, and Lacey mischievously juggles this reaction to build to more laughs. When toying with gentlemen in her front row, though, she comes to life; libidinous and in control.

Autism Mama is as audacious as it is ambitious. In its ambition, its narrative consistency is both instructive and almost too linear. There are few avenues from which to pull any variation for punchlines and, ultimately, as material for an hour long show, the momentum can peter out. In its audacity, it comes dangerously close to the line, just not consistently enough over the course of the show.

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Josephine Lacey: Autism Mama, Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three), run ended