Lulu Popplewell review: Sharp, witty stand-up with natural comic instincts
Lulu Popplewell knows the reason a lot of people in this audience have come to her show. She has a poster that might give off the impression that this is going to be an hour about romance and the exploration of a certain Christmas movie. Some of that is true — she will of course discuss the film — but she quickly dispels any notion that it’ll be romanticised in any way.
She hates rom coms, she says. Love is “more interesting and gritty” than they are capable of demonstrating. And so her show is about addiction, recovery, mess and finding humour in everything as much as possible; Actually, Actually is as interesting and gritty as Love, Actually is not.
She opts not to discuss too deeply her appearance as nativity lobster/daughter of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman (she was only 11 after all), and instead looks at the online fallout of a couple of throwaway comments she made about the film's attitude towards women on a podcast, which led to the Daily Mail and other rags publishing sensationalised stories about it. 1,500 Daily Mail commenters later, it must have been hard work finding the funny side.
She has done it though, and created a brilliant hour that really centres primarily around her experiences with addiction and recovery. It's fascinating to hear about the response when talking about being eight years sober with different groups of people, particularly accounting for the strange collective protectiveness over drinking as part of British culture.
Lulu is right at home on the stage, marrying her natural comic instincts with some really delicious methods of delivery using the screen behind her. She’s sharp and witty, and has an openness that draws you in. She’s not afraid to share controversial opinions (e.g. that she hates the beach) and has the ability to sense what we want and give it to us, on her terms. Knowing that people are always itching to hear about the bad things she did at her lowest points, she satiates the audience's curiosity in the form of a song.
Actually, Actually is full of things you want to keep talking about afterwards; about the vitriol directed at women who decide to publicly express even the smallest thought; about the hierarchy of acceptability assigned to different mental illnesses and addictions… I hope that she gets to take this show onwards because it’s just so rich.
Lulu Popplewell: Actually, Actually is at Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three), 4:35pm until August 27th. Tickets here.
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“Duo Chuck’n’Jeck’s Fringe debut 123movies.com is a whirlwind of sketches tied together under the umbrella of the most nonsensical and most fun awards ceremony you’ve ever watched”
“This is the sort of show that I long for at the Fringe: something queer and weird and extravagant that has an audience hooting and hollering and going out into the night feeling like they’ve just experienced something rare.”
“An absolute hoot. Hudson characterises this fading shine of light entertainment celebrity with aplomb, his frantic desperation to cling onto relevance butting up against the temptations and modernisations of a world that he is ill-equipped to deal with. “
“The social realm is a tricky beast, filled with grey areas and traps that can catch anyone out if they are unprepared. Luckily, Paulette has devised a code of etiquette for handling every social situation you might come up against.”
“This is one of those totally unique late night Fringe shows that will see you leave wondering, did that just happen? Did I and a whole bunker of people just spank each other silly on command? The answer is yes. Willingly, in fact.”
“Character comedian Han Whyte’s drag persona welcomes us to the launch of his new book and a relaunch of his previous works now adapted to be more feminist – at least in his eyes.”
“A show that unpacks this odd existence with equal measures of absurdity and tenderness, emphatically queer, both extremely funny and bittersweet.”
“God’s Favourite is an intense and inspired hour, bound by a combination of zippy writing and a faith in the show’s journey, which the audience shares in wholeheartedly.”
“This debut clown show is more than skin deep, as Maya mines her former life as a telenovela actress to investigate the pressures of remaining youthful, hyper-feminine and emotionally palatable. “
“Sexy baby, harangued ex-wife to a deadbeat genius, male growth plot device… How far have we come really?”
“Her characters provide a showcase for her wide-ranging comedic abilities and allow plenty of space to play”
“The immediate standing ovation that met Mothman’s curtain call came as no surprise. This is the type of show you’ll leave feeling like you need to see it again.”
“She’s dynamic and natural on stage, a simultaneously high-powered and relaxed stand-up.”
Getting to see Cooking With Kathryn is the perfect example of a welcome Fringe surprise – someone new to me and the Fringe, who has created something that fully reflects its anarchic, messy spirit. An absolute riot.
Gross in some places, soft in others, raucously fun all the way through. It’s a clown show that fully celebrates the joy of playing around. At every opportunity, Su takes the wilder option and runs with it.
Like the skirt suit she’s in search of, Baby Doomer is woven from honeyed threads. She wears both wonderfully. Can you plausibly call someone one of the greats this early in their career?
Marjolein’s perspective is a gift and Lein is another hypnotic, lyrical piece of work, and as funny as ever. Even if we haven’t all watched nuns trampolining in Amsterdam, being lost is a universal feeling.
I love all of it. Ayoade Bamgboye has the freshness of a new comedian performing without rules or restrictions. You truly have no idea what she might do next, and she makes it appear like she doesn’t either. It’s thrilling.
There are few people more naturally suited to the job at hand. Molly McGuinness’s debut Slob flows out of her with seemingly effortless dexterity.
I’ve been hearing rumblings of Ayo’s talent for a while and it’s immediately obvious why, both to me and this sold out crowd. His ease on stage, his delightful, sunny disposition and winning earnestness all combine to endear you to him straight away.
I could have watched endless iterations of couples (and throuples) galavant in different costumes around the attic – I lost all sense of time and never wanted to leave.
Her debut show is ticking all my boxes. Musical theatre. Check. Anxiety. Check. Feeling so much gratitude for your lovely therapist that you want to send them a gift but don’t know if it’s appropriate (it’s probably not). Check!
Sharon’s wellness tips are much more usable e.g. drink so much water to stave off your anxiety that you nearly piss yourself, scientology, bring back fortune tellers…
Rosa is quickly covered in slime – there’s one delightful moment after it has been poured where it looks like a lovely latex beret balancing over their fringe, then oozes down and hangs in a big globule off of one eyebrow.
This debut is going to bring in a good helping of the validation he craves. Pedro’s comedy is smooth, structured and sophisticated. He was made for the West End, but only the West’s most high-brow End
His rasping baritone and sudocremmed face thrust into the front row, he demands a nervous audience member call him “Daddy”. And yet, for all his broad-shouldered, domineering monstrosity, this character is strangely likeable.
