Woman of the Hour | Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den | til 8th Feb | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
On to a bare stage walks a woman dressed in a flowing floral robe and a turban, she speaks in a rich cultured voice immediately channeling a mix of Gloria Swanson in full Norma Desmond mode, with a twinge of Penelope Keith’s Margo Leadbetter.
We’re introduced to Cassandra Barbitoll, an ageing star of the stage who always in performance mode and through the course of the show we learn about Cassandra’s life from child star to awkward teen to making it is a star on the stage.
Joske doesn’t just play an ageing actress with a huge ego, she plays everyone in the story, morphing into dozens of characters which brought a steady stream of laughs from start to finish. Over the course of the show Joske is the actress’ stage mother, her first agent, people on the street, casting directors, alongside many others. She also portrays Barbitoll from infancy, through her teenage years to adulthood.
The show really fires when it moves into unexpected and seriously comical territory. Who knew facial hairs came from different nations? Often the most hilarious scenes were depictions of the most everyday circumstances, Joske can pull a good five minutes of laughs out of how a door is opened.
Sophie Joske has ventured into new territory with her brand new show Woman of the Hour. While the comedian has always had a strong theatrical aspect to her performances, this is the first time she’s offered a performance where she is fully immersed in character. It’s a bold choice for someone with an established following to make, and it pays off.
This show has an incredibly short run and ends on Saturday night, if you’re in need of a good laugh this is a great pick.
Don’t miss Woman of the Hour, it’s only on until Friday. Get tickets via Fringe World.
Graeme Watson: declaration – Sophie Joske was previously a writer at OUTinPerth.
