Molly McGuinness review: Generous and open – comedy is where she belongs
Edinburgh Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
Image: Jack Hauxwell
by Zoe Paskett
If the audience on the day I saw Molly McGuinness are anything to go by, people really need to start being braver about the buffet.
It’s the perfect introduction to start gently berating the room for not digging into her veggie sausages, and a suitably characteristic demonstration of what’s to come: an open ease and generosity in front of a crowd.
Molly’s debut show is titled Slob, as she has been worrying about not doing enough with her life. Her day job serving beans at a buffet isn’t providing satisfaction, and neither is being moved onto coffee: just another type of bean. It’s the crisis many a person entering their thirties encounters, but going into a coma isn’t, which she flings in with the most blasé announcement ever.
After a rare complication from tonsillitis led to sepsis, she was forced to do literally nothing but lie in a hospital bed and suck on a sponge (which she speaks about with such relish, I’m really keen to try a few sucks). With this, came a change in perspective and a lot of bizarre coma dreams.
There are few people more naturally suited to the job at hand. Molly’s debut flows out of her with seemingly effortless dexterity. The coma announcement comes late enough into the hour that we know already who she is and how she responds to things – whether that’s her lethal choice of karaoke song, her teenhood job as the goth Pamela Anderson of CEX, or the fact that she’d drunkenly join a random massive queue and nearly end up…I won’t spoil it.
We learn about Molly’s ability to attract a certain type of men – old, ankle tags, goes to Wetherspoon’s at 9am – and we get the opportunity to date some of them ourselves thanks to her hilarious Lonely Farts Club (which inspired a brilliant piece she wrote for the LMAOnaise paper last year by the way!)
It may sound unlikely, but her description of dating (not an old man) on the intensive care ward is honestly one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard. I refuse to believe that says anything about me; it’s truly a love story for the ages.
We know a coma is serious business – it’s a coma – so she doesn’t have to hammer that point home, and instead focuses on finding the funny side and identifying the simple pleasures she’s learnt to appreciate. It also means the brief sobering moments hit even harder.
Before the Fringe when people were asking about who I’m most excited to see, at the top of my list was Molly. She didn’t disappoint. Screw the beans, comedy is where she belongs.
Molly McGuinness: Slob is at CabVol 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Cabaret Voltaire) at 14:55. Tickets here
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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.
