Change »
Adelaide Fringe 2007 (14)
Edinburgh Fringe 2000 (60)
Edinburgh Fringe 2001 (316)
Edinburgh Fringe 2002 (354)
Edinburgh Fringe 2003 (376)
Edinburgh Fringe 2004 (422)
Edinburgh Fringe 2005 (415)
Edinburgh Fringe 2006 (548)
Edinburgh Fringe 2007 (668)
Edinburgh Fringe 2008 (734)
Edinburgh Fringe 2009 (774)
Edinburgh Fringe 2010 (929)
Melbourne 2005 (26)
Melbourne 2006 (29)
Melbourne 2007 (31)
Melbourne 2008 (36)
Melbourne 2009 (36)
Melbourne 2010 (56)
Misc live shows (159)
Montreal 2004 (6)
Montreal 2006 (10)
Montreal 2007 (15)
Montreal 2008 (17)
Montreal 2009 (17)
Theatre (22)
Tour (165)West End run (14)
See Less »
|
Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting
Many years ago whilst up a hill with the Kate Bush Fan Club eating magic fudge, Zoe stumbled upon the secret of inner peace. Just live life and be happy. But that’s much easier said than done when you’re the sort of person who could commit mass insect homicide in a butterfly house, becomes violent when confronted with souvenir thimbles and lies awake at night worrying that if you ever went to prison you wouldn’t use the time wisely and would only be a disappointment to yourself.
Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting at the Brighton Comedy Festival |
|
Performing a home-town festival gig ahead of a full tour next year, Zoe Lyons finds herself in storytelling mode. Following some bubbly banter with the audience, she eases back into a small handful of extended anecdotes, reclaiming embarrassing incidents from her past in the name of comedy. Although a lively and affable performer, Lyons’s default position is one of irritated negativity at this world full of idiots, yet she finds herself too awkward and middle-class to do anything more than mutter under her breath – or harrumph at a room full of strangers. Her gripes will be familiar: she hates late-night infomercials, gets irritated at traffic jams with no apparent cause and is bewildered how a cheap tourist trinket can ever hope to capture the majesty of the world’s great natural monuments. She’s entertainingly dismissive on her chosen topics, occasionally emerging with a gem of a line. But what is harder to discern is a unique attitude. Exactly what is a defining Zoe Lyons jokes or routine? Her stilted, over-deliberate posturing as she delivers the material adds to the impression this is a triumph of technique over inspiration. The tone is mostly workmanlike, rather like an irascible newspaper columnist being wittily grumpy on cue. The monologue is fluid, the writing light and the topics universal, but it lacks distinction. Even her personal stories can fall into the same trap. A trip to Amsterdam starts with her pondering whether she should sample the cultural delights of the Rijksmuseum before – surprise, surprise – she decides to get high. The ensuing anecdote unfolds engagingly, but doesn’t stand out. It’s also weakened by her treating an obviously exaggerated incident of hotel-room theft as true, which undermines the integrity of the rest of the story. More dope-related shenanigans come with her teenage trip to Glastonbury, and her discovery of ‘magic’ fudge. Again, she proves herself a safe pair of hands: reliably smile-worthy, if not a stand-out. But the tale that does set her apart – the one that could be the distinctive calling-card she needs – is a hilariously humiliating encounter on Brighton’s nudist beach. The scene is vividly, and amusingly set, her indignity is real, and there’s a very funny postscript about the annual naked bike ride through the city. It’s a cracking story – which, crucially, feels like it could only have happened to her – and is entertainingly told, with several great gags emerging from the events. This is definitely the sort of hilarious personal yarn which, if she can repeat, will make her name. |
|
Date of live review: Saturday 23rd Oct, '10 | |
Review by Steve Bennett |
No comments are currently available for this show. |
Two Birds Go Into A Bar...
Bent Double
Funny Women Final 2004
Funny Women gala 2005
Zoe Lyons: Fight Or Flight
Zoe Lyons: Mangled Mantra Of The Messed Up Modern Mind
Girls With Guns
Zoe Lyons: Miss Machismo
20:30 - Thursday 3rd Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Nottingham Glee |
Prices: | Adult - £9.50, Student - £6.50 |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Friday 4th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Derby Assembly Rooms and Guildhall |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Saturday 5th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Runcorn The Brindley |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Sunday 6th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Manchester Frog And Bucket |
Prices: | £8 (£6 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:30 - Thursday 10th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Birmingham Glee Club |
Prices: | Adult - £9.50, Student - £7.50 |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Saturday 12th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Warrington Parr Hall and Pyramid |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Sunday 13th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Leeds Adelphi |
Prices: | £8 |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Tuesday 15th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Chesham Elgiva Theatre |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Wednesday 16th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Bath Rondo Theatre |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Thursday 17th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Leicester Richard Attenborough Centre |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Wednesday 23rd Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Lancaster The Dukes |
Prices: | £10.50 (£8.50 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
Saturday 26th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre |
Prices: | Call for prices |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Sunday 27th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Cardiff Glee Club |
Prices: | Adult - £9.50, Student - £7.50 |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Monday 28th Feb, '11 | |
Venue: | Preston Frog & Bucket |
Prices: | £8 (£6 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |
20:00 - Thursday 14th Jul, '11 | |
Venue: | Norwich Arts Centre |
Prices: | £12 (£10 concs) |
Show: | Zoe Lyons: Clownbusting |