Having interviewed Jenny Gorelick earlier in the month, I was interested to see whether the engaging, quick witted comedian I had met would translate into her debut Fringe hour, SORRY.
The premise is straightforward enough, bad dates, worse decisions and an apology, in advance, to the men Gorelick has dated, or might yet date. It is territory firmly rooted in the experience and language of dating as a younger woman and, perhaps inevitably, it talks most directly to a younger and predominantly female audience.
My curiosity was whether Gorelick could pull those of us outside that demographic into her orbit. The truth is, not quite.
There is actually another layer of comedy available here. What happens when an older man simply does not understand the joke? Stop, look at him, dissect it, explain why everyone else is laughing. Our incomprehension could become part of the entertainment. Why are we not getting this? There is surely a joke in that too.
Instead, Gorelick has a tendency to stick to the script, whether a line lands or not. That ability to stop, read a room and exploit what is happening in the here and now is one of stand up’s great skills. Knowing when to abandon the script for a moment can turn a good comedian into a formidable live performer. Gorelick is not quite there yet, but those instincts develop with experience.
The show’s best joke comes courtesy of an ex who happened to be a magician. There were warning signs, a red flag, then a blue one, then a yellow one. Perhaps she should have seen what was coming. One minute he was there, the next he had disappeared.
Gorelick is personable company and there is an appealing openness to her storytelling. I enjoyed spending an hour with her, even when I suspected some of the room was enjoying it rather more.
SORRY is pleasant, entertaining Fringe fare from a comedian with plenty of potential. I would simply like to see Gorelick occasionally stop ploughing through the field she knows and start having some fun with those of us standing bewildered at the fence.
Playing until August 30th 2026, https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2026SORRY
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 11th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr
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