Glasgow Comedy Festival
The Calman before the Storm
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
Marianne Gunn
five stars
CELEBRATING 10 years as a stand-up, Susan Calman is delighted she has survived and – if her BBC Radio 4 appearances are anything to go by – thrived over the last few years. Joking that she's interchangeable for Ruth Davidson (or Rhona Cameron), her one regret is that she is considered too "high brow" for reality shows. Her various "cerebral" television appearances were dissected: on QI she was the victim of Stephen Fry's disdain for being an expert on the Smurfs; while on Pointless she regretted stroking her chin as it was far too late to deal with the unfortunate facial hair by then.
Calman revealed how domestic bliss has ensued since the "tangerine juggernaut of joy" was elected as she and her wife threw caution to the wind and bought a big house – and five kittens. "If we're all going to die, I may as well die in a big house." She has also discovered the joys of being an aunt, including crafting and misplaced jealousy, as well as the importance of kindness for the future of humanity. With audience members tweeting acts of kindness, Calman also found material for her new book – a clever and inclusive way of testing the collective spirit across her national tour. Funny, fierce, feminist -–and fantastic.
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