Baines' witty banter is chatty and charming as she waxes comedic about space and her disconcerting obsession with Brian Cox, and delves into surprisingly sensitive and touching material.
The show's venue is small, tucked away in a corner of Pleasance, but Baines' smile remains big as she giggles and chortles along with the groans of the audience in response to her pun-derful punchlines. She talks to us in the audience as though we are friends at a routinely catch-up; sharing her frustrations with Twitter, reminiscing about childhood school experiences, and delivering the odd innuendo. The show is immediately relatable with quick-paced and sparkling delivery that lends itself to the intimate, 55-seater space. Fans of Miranda Hart will enjoy the similar sense of self-awareness and gentle cheekiness that leaves you giggling behind your hand, rather than turning red.
Baines spends the hour talking feminism - specifically the representation of women in the science industries - and sharing her enthusiasm for everything with the prefix 'astro'. Her anecdotes are humorous and entertaining, and although she only has a GSCE in Physics, Baines excitedly offers the audience bite-size factoids about interstellar engineering and the make-up of the planets in the solar system with genuine love.
However, Baines' power and talent as a performer comes through most in the more serious moments of her routine. Illuminated by spotlight, she takes a segment to reflect on her relationships with both her late grandmother, and with the science and comedy industries from which she has felt isolated because of her gender. These personal stories are somewhat more entertaining and engaging than her jokes (even when accompanied by a 'pun bell'), however they tie the show and its themes together nicely.
A multi-faceted talent to watch out for, Baines brings a dose of whimsy to the Fringe. Perfect for an amusing mid-afternoon.
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Aug 16-29. 3.30pm. Read more here.
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