Katie Green @ Pleasance Courtyard
¡Ay Mija! is a sassy and self-aware show from Salvadoran Queen Katie Green
Katie Green's show, ¡Ay Mija! spans three countries, and delights in picking apart the nuances in culture, behaviour and expectations that demonstrate what we have in common, and what we'll never understand about "that place". Growing up in San Francisco, and of El Salvadoran heritage, Green moved to London to study at the University of East London, a sideways shuffle which seems to be paying off in terms of her material.
Green is certainly not afraid to laugh at herself, analysing her yearbook entry line by line to try to understand why she might have been seen as the weirdo at school. She's always positive and optimistic, however, never allowing the gags to slide into self pity or bitterness at her erstwhile classmates. It's a skill that suggests she is putting her acting background to good use - she carries the audience with her through every twist and turn, with an immediacy and honesty which allow the crowd to lend her their support.
Green handles the multimedia elements of the show deftly, never letting the slides or video do too much of the heavy lifting. Her family also play a big role in the show, though Green remains proudly centre stage. Her warm, engaging, and conversational set hits some late-night notes without ever feeling as though she's playing the sex card for cheap laughs.
It's a show full of Latin references, delivered with charm by Green, and focusing on her missed Quinceañera (a Latin American gal's coming of age party). This leads to a really beautiful crescendo to the show, with a party atmosphere that never feels like it's desperate for attention. The idea of the missed party is a practical foil to talk about universal themes, and while there are moments of pathos in her story, Green never forgets that we are here to laugh. It's a joyous, uplifting show delivered with confidence and a huge grin.
Katie Green: ¡Ay Mija!, Pleasance Courtyard (Baby Grand), until 25 Aug, 9.35pm, £9-£12