MICF 2015: Reviews #5 – by Jullian Callinan

Judith Lucy, Ask No Questions of the Moth



The traffic to the show was a nightmare, we discovered, as Judith Lucy greeted the latecomers in some ice-breaking crowd work. And we all applauded Philomena, who had left her husband of 45 years last year because he had objected to her spending money at Savers. This was all part of Lucy asking audience members about their 2014, because her show is primarily about how hers wasn’t that great and why. She’s an expert comedian, able to get big laughs out of conventional material, and while this show doesn’t break any new ground, it is reliably funny and performed to her usual high standard. A very safe bet for good laughs.

Not for anyone who dislikes a comedian with a good rapport with their audience or anyone who doesn’t want to find out what cranking is.

Judith Lucy is on at the Arts Centre from the 25th of March to the 5th of April, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 6 pm. Also the 10th of April at 7 pm and the 12th at 6 pm.
Show runs for 70 minutes.

Claire Hooper, School Camp

Claire Hooper has a one-year-old daughter. She also has memories of school camps, though in writing the show she has discovered just how elastic our memories can be. Her show is, simply, amazing, filled with big and plentiful laughs but also exploring what we remember about growing up and how that changes. It’s a very true show, about how we actually were when we were young rather than the sanitised version that remains later on, and all filtered through her specific experience. Wonderfully written and performed, it was a highlight of a show that managed to be hilarious but also tell a great, coherent story, making it supremely satisfying. It was both a delight and a learning experience, especially for the youngest members of the audience. Definitely go, and hopefully you won’t also have the bagpiper in the street faintly giving the whole show an unneeded Scottish air.

Not for anyone who wishes to forget how messy puberty is or those disappointed when a whole show isn’t dick jokes.

Claire Hooper is on at the Town Hall from the 26th of March to the 19th of April, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 9.45 pm, Sundays at 8.45 pm.