Review: Sam Carlyle - My Life & Other Jokes
Live streamed from a simple space with a small socially distanced audience, a pianist, his piano, the lady of the hour: Sam Carlyle and her microphone… Besties, we may be in a pandemic but the fringe is definitely back.
Without further ado, a joke addresses why a seemingly unknown woman decided to write an entire cabaret about her life thus far, and a re-telling of a hit Spice Girls song lets us know in a flash who Sam Carlyle is. What Carlyle precedes to do for the next 60 minutes is to take us on a rip-roaring ride through her experiences with self-discovery, boys, girl power and self-confidence, via the medium of 90’s and 00’s bangers, and all accompanied by the sensational Thomas Duchan.
From the outset, Carlyle masters the ability to self-deprecate and celebrate herself with equal and expert aplomb. Her confidence and likability instantly draws an audience in, letting them know that they’re in for an hour of unbridled joy and TMI (too much information).
For someone who is new to the stand-up scene, there isn’t an ounce of beginner’s nerves. Carlyle knows what she’s doing and knows just what she wants to say. She both sticks to the script and goes off-piste without letting anything blindside her.
Having trained in musical theatre and being a self-confessed lover of musicals, Carlyle manipulates songs she loves to tell stories that have defined her as a person with pitch perfect vocals. From Shania Twain to Vanessa Carlton, N-SYNC to Disney, Sam Carlyle expertly lyricises her adventures, in-keeping with the original styles but also taking us on a journey of her own and most importantly, it’s all true!
Carlyle knows there’s no one better to narrate a list of '“man fails” and “mansplained” dates than Shania Twain, or no better Pop Queen than Britney Spears to sum up the first experience of a cervical screening. An intelligent performer, Carlyle manages to raise interesting questions about female empowerment in the film Jaws, whilst also musing the pitfalls of modern dating if endured by the classic Disney Princess.
Nothing is off limits during this show; from ingrowing nipple hair, elusive cervixes and unfortunate toilet incidents in the shower, Carlyle normalises situations other people would find horrifying, empowering you to not take life too seriously or to apply pressure to things that aren’t important, because ultimately, who cares?!
A few sound and vision issues hampered the overall viewing experience, but that’s to be expected and forgiven in these strange times. Special commendation should also be given to Watford Fringe for giving us the opportunity to watch it via live stream.
On a Saturday night in 2020 with the uncertainty of live performance ever present, Sam Carlyle: My Life and Other Jokes was just the tonic needed. I’m pretty certain that this is the birth of a comedic star.
****’ Four and a half stars
Reviewed by: Duncan Burt
