Kitty Flanagan –
A Festival of Me
Mick Perrin for Just for Laughs Live
Pleasance Dome @ 20:20, Aug 1-27 (not 8 or 15), (1hr), £8.50 (£7.00), £9.50 (£8.00)
***
While I’ve never particularly been a fan of the ritualistic ‘getting to know you’ audience attack that kicks off many stand-up gigs; it seems odd for Kitty Flanagan to begin her show by admitting her lack of competence in that sector.

This is a reason that she offers for opening the show by screening a rather good short film she has made (more on that later). To announce a weakness in your own craft so early on seems a little dangerous, I hope she doesn’t get hecklers. But to a certain extent, this show focuses on weaknesses. Not necessarily the range of frailties that may spring to mind but an array of issues, doubts and insecurities that Kitty finds herself nagged by.

Kitty tells us that she’s 38, lives in a shared house in London with students and has left it too late to have children. It is at this point that, against my will, I began to switch off, somewhat unfairly presuming that I’ve heard all this from x number of female comedians before. The type who talk of their ailing sex life and joke that these days in order to get a shag, they are forced to encourage rape. I don’t really consider myself a prude… I love crudities, and I devour mum gags but for some reason I find that particular kind of angle rather distasteful.

Putting my fears aside, I refocused my attention as Kitty discussed attending therapy and her disappointment with strangers’ child-rearing… Her excitably endearing energy whipped me along as she went on to question why she would need to pay for therapy when she has a more readily available way of talking out her issues. But then lo and behold, up pops the rape humour as Flanagan considers lurking within alleyways in the hope of securing swift coitus from a potential rapist. And my heart sank.

Flanagan admits having a problem with over thinking; it gets her into trouble. She pre-empts and analyses situations in her head thereby causing her to say things she shouldn’t and I think I must share the same problem. As her set unfolded I found myself distracted by drawn out internal analysis of the issues I seem to have with vulgar humour from female comedians. What is my problem? Am I blissfully content hearing comparable material from male comedians? Is this a sexist trait?

Meanwhile my fellow audience members were having riotous fun, so I’m clearly alone with these issues… perhaps a therapy session is required and I need to talk it out. Perhaps I too have a cheaper and more easily accessible way of getting these things off my chest.

That aside - returning to the opening of the show, it should be noted that Kitty Flanagan has a great talent in producing comedy drama, one that will hopefully spawn some kind of television product through her association with Baby Cow Productions. Her excellent video short ‘Dating Ray Fenwick’ (starring Julia Davis, Georgie Glen and Tim Vine) is a clear highlight to this show and the set is equally well bookended with a joyous ditty inspired by the likes of Britney and her ilk going commando on a night out.

Altogether this is a very enjoyable show… just leave your prude hat at the door… even if you think you’re not wearing one.


by Ian Phillips

The National Student's
2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
coverage is supported by