Comedy / Reviews
Review: Lucy Porter: Consequences, Comedy Box
Lucy Porter is one of those comedians whose act doesn’t look or feel like an act.
Her upbeat style and relaxed delivery have earned her a loyal following: the show opens with sherry and chocs for loyal returnees. The first half is a jokey introduction to the three things we need to know about Lucy: namely, she’s married to a massive man, has massive children and lives in Pinner, Middlesex.
Lucy shares her discomfort about being middle class and living on the other side of 40. A memorable sequence involves audience member Pete in a test to see if he can think like a 40-year-old to secure us all a place in part two of her show. Does he have a favourite A road? He does, so we can all stay for the second half.
And what a good thing too. In a move away from the observational gags of the first, the second half takes the theme of changing attitudes across the generations, including Lucy’s own. It begins with a letter written to her teenage self that Lucy was asked to pen for a magazine, and which she then follows up with a disappointed letter back from Lucy, age 16, who is still obsessed with marrying Morrissey and not listening to Queen.
It’s all delivered with such ease that it’s a surprise when the final letter, one from the future to current Lucy, ends the show on a series of cleverly set-up callbacks. There’s plenty of meat here too: as she reflects on her increasing political apathy and struggle to understand transgender rights, the pace may dip but it’s no less thoughtful.
A balance of anecdotes and politics: and, once again, the Comedy Box attracting the best national talent.
Lucy Porter played the Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken on Friday, October 28. For more Comedy Box lineups, visit www.thecomedybox.co.uk
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