Stimmicanto – Barons Court Theatre

Do you keep more than five pictures of Paul Rudd on your laptop? Have you ever tried and failed to make small talk with your own brain? Do you find yourself giggling at peculiar street names on a regular basis? If so, consider this your sign to check out Stimmicanto, an hour of offbeat comedy full of surprises.

The show, conceived and performed by comedian Paggy Gacheva, densely packs a wide-ranging slew of information into its 60-minute run time. Audiences are guided gently through its many transitions between topics, but their frequency and lack of clear directional focus prevent viewers from settling into consistent enjoyment, and the absence of an overall theme in the work at times makes it difficult to follow.

The joy, or “encanto” Gacheva finds in performance is evident and endearing; however, a mind moving a mile a minute frequently leaves its audience scrambling in the dust. Its whimsy is its appeal, and it is in its tamer moments that it lags. When Gacheva works hardest to win over the audience it is to least effect but in moments where she disregards it entirely, such as her early exit in order to demonstrate the wide range of claimed spaces on the autism spectrum, she delights.

Gacheva is a flexible performer and impresses most in a segment where she takes on the personality of an evil game show host, who nonetheless treats all audience participants with a respect and kindness altogether uncharacteristic of the profession but refreshingly welcome in stand-up comedy accommodating neurodivergent audiences. Gacheva is, as advertised, a pun master, and shines brightest in her audience interactions, quickly ad-libbing responses to reluctantly proffered suggestions for “a good first name for a therapist” and engaging individual members of the crowd without incurring the least bit of embarrassment in anyone. Stimmicanto is as good natured and playful as stand-up comedy gets.

This single technician operation makes good use of the resources afforded by its rather sparse environs, but the overall structure is lacking and many of its bits feel better suited to short format like TikTok or Instagram reels where they can be properly digested in bite size chunks. There’s a lot to chew on in this hour of content but not every dish complements the others, and each course is unfortunately too rushed to fully savour.

Reviewer: Kira Daniels

Reviewed: 31st January 2024

North West End UK Rating: