Surreally great!!
I have a theory that environment can create comedy, that some spaces are just inherently funnier than others. So here, upstairs at Pleasance Dome, where the equally brilliant Crizards stood last Fringe, rising star Lorna Rose Treen rises from the mound. It is a small space, hot ‘intimate’, as they say, and, unsurprisingly, it is full.
Treen, emerges from a pile of laundry, reminiscent of a student’s bedroom. The ‘mound’ plays a central role for quick clothes changes, prop retrieval and another brilliant use, which will have you creased up – but no spoilers here!.
Almost Pythonesque in her humour, she plays many characters in this quick-fire sketch show, but chief among them is the tough talking nine-year-old brownie, who appears several times, surely a cypher of Treen’s younger self. Brownietreen barks like an army PT instructor. She already has a sash full of badges including ‘running with scissors’ but is still trying for her ‘entertainment’ one. Surely, it is only a matter of time.
We are introduced to a hilarious bunch of characters from Treen’s fervent imagination: a chain-smoking film noir vamp, a mickey-take of Sally Rooney, reading from her latest children’s book Normal Babies, an Aussie PE teacher who has the audience participating in ball games, a cowboy with guns for hands is a delicious highlight.
The ebullient Treen is on top form, she even has the gall to wrap her prehensile tail around this reviewer’s neck, she already knows she’s getting five stars!
Entertainment badge well overdue, and there might be some Fringe awards heading her way too!
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 5th August 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr