Desiree Burch knows how to pull a crowd. Not just in numbers — the room was effectively sold out — but in breadth. The audience is a fabulous mix of ages, genders, and, as seems to be a recurring feature of her run, knitters. People are clearly drawn to Desiree, and it’s not hard to see why.
Desiree’s Golden Wrath is a fast and fiercely intelligent mix of personal and sharp commentary, all orbiting one undeniable fact: Desiree is 46, and the female body is a weird and treacherous place to grow older. She brings her Too Hot To Handle quick wit and quips to bear on a subject that’s both very real and very funny.
“She takes the whole room with her — from twenty-somethings in their rainy season to those firmly in the sweat, sweat, sweat stage of life.”
She takes us from the chaos of childhood to the realities of perimenopause, introduced through an unconvincing sales pitch. Desiree manages to turn the grim realities of perimenopause into laughs through a mix of vulnerability and relatability — like the contradictions of being wet and dry at the same time, or only learning the names of body parts because they’re falling apart.
It’s a show about honesty and finding humour in the things women are typically told to stay quiet about. Desiree shines a light on it all in this fast-paced hour, shifting from big, laugh-out-loud moments to hair-raising flashes of connection, taking the whole room with her, from the twenty-year-olds still in their rainy season to those firmly in the sweat, sweat, sweat stage of life. There’s even something for your inner nerd, with unexpected gamer and Star Trek references.
If there’s any weakness to the Golden Wrath, it’s that the opening and closing don’t feel as closely tied as the rest of the show. But given how much the show delivers, this is a minor issue. I got as much joy from the laughs as from seeing how much it resonated with certain members of the audience — the knowing laughter and enthusiastic nodding.
You might know her from her narration of Too Hot To Handle, Taskmaster appearances, or Live at the Apollo, or you might not know her at all. Doesn’t matter. Desiree is an en pointe comic who has mastered crossing intergenerational divides. And to top all that, her honesty and fearlessness on stage make her downright inspirational. You can make your life better by going to see this show.
Feel convinced? Her show is sold out on the 9th and 10th August — but some limited tickets will be available on the door. The good news is that she’s added an extra show on Tuesday 12th. Otherwise, don’t panic, it will all be okay — she is taking the show on tour.
Disclaimer: This show’s wonderful rating has nothing to do with the fact that Desiree complimented my rainbow dress. It’s 1000% down to an incredible hour spent in the company of such a fast, witty and sharply observational woman.
Show details
Venue: Venue 515: Monkey Barrel Comedy, 9-12 Blair Street, EH1 1QR (Google Maps)
Date(s): Mon 28 Jul to Sun 10 Aug (13 shows) – plus extra show on Tuesday 12th Aug
Time(s): 5:40pm (60 mins)
Age recommendation: 16+
Price: From £10 (or pay what you can on the door)
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