Francesca Martinez, Hackney Empire Studio, 9th Feb 2008
February 11, 2008 – 8:25 am | by Allan McKay
The HE Studio is the perfect venue for the show that Francesca Martinez crafted while she was suffering from burnout. It would be difficult make a show this intimate work in the macho, gladiatorial atmosphere of comedy clubs or in a large impersonal theatre, but this space is ideal.
Her style is incredibly gentle (even late arrivals escaped with a wrist-slap rather than the usual ritual humiliation) which is surprising given the subject matter of the show. She covers very serious topics including politics, consumerism, popular culture (OK/Hello magazines), political correctness, organised religion and patronising attitudes. Instead of using the Bill Hicks technique of pushing your face up against the topic until you can’t ignore it, she gently leads you around the topic and invites you to look at it from another point of view.
The audience are invited to participate in the show as contributors rather than victims as Francesca builds up momentum and rapport by coming back to audience members repeatedly to involve them in the proceedings. References to routines used earlier also helped to create a sense of continuity, giving a feeling of a complete show, rather than a string of jokes.
Without spoiling the laughs for anyone, there is a great routine about swearing only being words and the effect of swapping a taboo word with a completely innocent one which got a great response. The show contains some very personal and some very brave comedy (going for laughs with a combination of disability and 9/11), but it’s all done with such a light touch that it makes you examine your own responses to these topics.
Go to see this show for big laughs, lots of observation and biographical material and maybe the chance to examine your own attitudes and perceptions.
