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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Phone: 0208 962 8695
Email: tap@advocacyproject.org.uk
Shappi talk: Khorsandi delivers mainstream humour against her background as the daughter of a satirist who fled Iran to protect his family from hit squads
The last time Shappi Khorsandi appeared at the Soho Theatre she was in the tiny studio room.
This time she is in the biggest space and tickets are like gold-dust. Next time she will be in an even larger venue. Thanks to numerous television appearances and lashings of talent this is a comedian on the cusp of household-name fame.
This petite 37-year-old also has a unique selling point. Michael McIntyre cannot say that his father was an Iranian satirist who fled to London when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power and had to hide his family from assassins.
During a wide-ranging show that deftly juggles mainstream humour and hard-hitting rumination, a chilling joke evokes the scenario: “The Iranian regime strongly advocates free speech, but there is no freedom after you’ve spoken.” The Distracted Activist is peppered with pithy one-liners like this. Multiculturalism and the travails of motherhood feature heavily.
Khorsandi is wittiest when she unites these strands, such as recalling the nurses suggesting her new-born baby was mixed race. The only time one can truly use that phrase, the star argued, is when referring to mermaids.
She is consistently good on prejudice, whether remembering playground National Front bullies or sarcastically sympathising with Nick Griffin being ganged up on during Question Time (“We love an underdog!”).
There are further cherishable quips regarding the lighter side of her youth. Today’s lovestruck mobile-touting teens can pop out while waiting for an admirer to call, she could not even pop to the lavatory, instead staying glued to the telephone in the hall.
All this is delivered in a self-mocking, relaxed style. Sometimes too relaxed. Chatting with the audience is a good way of getting them onside, but sometimes her banter scuttled down dead ends. Yet whenever it looked as if she was running out of steam she bounced back. With a little editing this enjoyable show could be enthralling.
The best story was saved until last. Khorsandi recently booked a cab to take her to numerous gigs in one night and the confused driver thought she was a stripper. He was even more confused when she mentioned her dad was in the same business. This will not happen much more. Happy Shappi will soon have her own chauffeur.
Until Saturday, 020 7478 0100
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I have to admit I didn't like Shappi the first few times I saw her a few years ago, but recently I caught her comparing a show and she was fantastic, obviously smoothed the rough edges out of her act, great stuff
- Chris Ford, London
Without doubt one of the best female comedians around. I wish she would release a dvd of her live tour.
- Tony, Southsea, England
I have seen Shappi a number of times now and it's been lovely to see her act grow.
I found her to be hilarious in Brighton (Comedy Festival), yes sometimes the audience led her down dead ends but she always recovered. I think the whole audience was surprised when we realised the show had nearly finished as it felt very much as though we were all at a friends house just chatting & having a laugh.
She is a brilliant comedian, I hope she continues to visit Brighton for many years to come.
To give you an idea of my humour - Other acts seen this year: Lucy Porter, Tim Minchin, Russell Howard, Laura Solon, Eddie izzard.
- Lisa, Brighton
I don't think may who've seen her would agree with Michael. Sold out at the Edinburgh fringe throughout the week that we were there. Usually, that only happens to Scots who live elsewhere.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON
She's not very funny and very forced; too many awkward gaps in her material which has been done to death by other better stand-ups
- Michael, London
