Edinburgh Fringe 2015 review – Aisling Bea: unstoppable confidence in bubbly, charismatic show of escapist fantasies

Bea’s fizzy personality and  formidable comic charisma made this show special, says Bruce Dessau
Fizzy personality: Aisling Bea
Rex
Bruce Dessau10 August 2015

Aisling Bea is hot in various ways. The Irish comic is increasingly in demand on television and on the opening weekend of the Edinburgh Fringe her sweaty venue was so close to meltdown her audience was handed paper plates on arrival to use as fans.

Despite tropical temperatures Bea never let up in a performance that started with a high voltage self-mocking dance and ended with a stomping power ballad. Between these peaks the star-in-waiting rattled through autobiographical highlights with formidable comic charisma.

Having grown up in rural Ireland adoring Baywatch, she dreamt of Hollywood fame. Instead the reality was an unfaithful boyfriend with a “wandering micky”, drama school and playing wenches in pirate-themed rock videos.

Her tale was peppered with a range of accents from posh English to Jerry Hall Texan as she worked the audience like a trouper and threw in some subtle politics. It was ironic that she sent up the confidence of Kanye West, because despite her modesty she was pretty unstoppable herself.

What makes this show feel special is Bea’s fizzy personality. Her escapist fantasies might be familiar, but she brings a bubbly freshness to them. I’m more than happy to be in her fan club.

Until August 30 (0131 622 6552, gildedballoon.co.uk)

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