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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Race Off
Verdict: Good premise, show needs development
Sajeela Kershi and Brett O'Shaughnessy present a comedy double-act satirising their cultural stereotypes, as perceived by each other: desperate Asian housewife, angry cockney geezer.
Sajeela Kershi's set needs work. It's intelligent and she comes across as hugely likeable, it shows seeds of real humour. But she seems flustered and her delivery is a little rushed. Her banter with the audience feels brave but not wholly successful, because it seems less confident than it needs to be. Much of the material is undeveloped and not fully exploited; even on one occasion she says 'I haven't thought of a punchline for that yet'. She compares organised religion with James Bond - both are accused of being sexist, both think they're God's gift to the human race, and both have a licence to kill. It's quite funny and equating Timothy Dalton - 'the one no-one likes' - with Islam is witty. It needs more material like this. She is also at her funniest when she describes her mother in wholly stereotypical terms, but it's not clear if it's ironical.
Brett O'Shaughnessy's set seems a bit more developed. He talks about his family, his junkie Dad - 'I just thought he had really bad flu for ten years' - and does good character performances of his Dad's junkie friends which are very funny. The section on mind-reading his wife is also good, and he uses the mic for sound effects in a clever way. But his portrayal of his pregnant wife tips further into the harsh than is wholly comfortable. Overall, the material verges on the weak, so it makes the strong messages behind the set seem mildly preachy - which is disconcerting.
The premise - that by satirising their own stereotypes they can jump ahead of prejudice - looks a good one. They are certainly a partnership with potential. Currently, the show feels unmemorable; and there's a lot of work to do before it's a fully-fledged comic set. But it would be good to see them try.
Cast Credits: Performers (alpha order): Sajeela Kershi. Brett O'Shaughnessy.
Company Credits: Writers - Sajeela Kershi & Brett O'Shaughnessy. Director - uncredited. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Comic Angels.
END
(c) Ruth Stanley 2008
reviewed on Saturday 16 August 2008 / at 22:50 (1:00) / Laughing Horse @ Espionage @ Kasbar, Edinburgh
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012