Susan Harrison’s parade of weird and wonderful characters was a big hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and it’s not hard to see why. This hilarious mixture of stand-up, improv and character comedy is sharp, original, and best of all, funny. Depressed Sindy is a particularly brilliant and original skit, as the doll looks back on her life of always being negatively compared to her more successful American counterpart, Barbie. Angry panda from Chester Zoo makes cogent observations of how people view zoo animals and intrude on their private moments.
Over-the-top “influencer” Fleur is recognisably cringe-worthy. Harrison also takes a deep dive into the surreal with her girl stuck in a well inside a woman – a bizarre alter-ego but strangely believable which even draws the audience into asking the girl in the well questions about her life. No matter how off-the-wall the characters, Harrison manages to make them all totally credible. She becomes Sindy/panda/girl in well just with minimal costume changes and an array of well-defined voices. And a couple of wigs. It’s not always a slick performance but Harrison is a naturally talented performer who takes the audience with her on her surreal journey.
Harrison notes that she’s been performing her comedy characters for years. Should she still be doing this? A rhetorical question, of course, because the answer is always going to be yes. When it brings you and others so much joy and laughter, don’t stop.
Reviewer: Carole Gordon
Reviewed: 24th April 2026
North West End UK Rating:
There are pranks aplenty in the Edinburgh Rep Company’s production of Much Ado About Nothing…
Twelve-year-old Sam Wilson is convinced that he will be named Head Boy, so when he…
Based on a true story, Down to Chance, follows the events in an Alaskan town…
As a theatre space, Colab Tower in London Bridge offers quirky novelty and elements of…
SMOKE is a savage queer comedy thriller. A play written and performed by Alex Gregory.…
Jack Docherty has had a much longer, and varied, career than many may be aware…