Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean is back for three nights only at the Pleasance Courtyard with perhaps her most personal and important show to date. The eponymous animal makes no appearance in the show, outside of the simply spectacular sequin one-piece Pritchard-McLean graced us with. Instead, this is a show the genesis of which stems from lockdown when Kiri and partner Dan heard an advert on the radio asking for people to consider fostering.
Is a comedian even an appropriate career for a would-be foster parent? “As a mother”, are you suddenly more concerned about the looming climate catastrophe? How do you evaluate your mood by car model? This is a show about parents, parenting, and Kiri’s journey in attempting to become a foster parent – with the usual dry and bordering sardonic wit that Kiri is renowned for.
If you love Kiri Pritchard-McLean, you’ll love this show; this is her at her most. But if you don’t like her comedy [what’s wrong with you?!] I would still actively encourage you to try and catch this show somewhere. There is a tenderness and emotional aspect to it that nearly had me tearing up at one point.
There are over 100,000 children in the care system in the UK. It is a system in crisis, and these young people need safe homes with loving people – whether that be for just weeks or long-term.
Kiri’s show draws attention to that fact, and ends on an impassioned plea for people to consider fostering. I didn’t know, for example, that you could still be considered as a foster parent if you’re single.
This is a great and funny show, but it’s more than that – to me at least. It’s a public service broadcast, wrapped up in an hour of crude and witty comedy. Which, for the record, is how I’d like all of my public notices to be delivered here on out.
0 Comments