Michelle Wolf is a very funny, very polished comedian – unsurprising given specials on both HBO and Netflix, and her 2018 headline act, skewering Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
She’s also very pregnant and here in Edinburgh to amuse Fringe audiences. Did anyone say compulsive multi-tasker?
Going straight for the elephant in the world, she first takes aim at the Donald, whilst deftly avoiding the well-worn angles of attack. Once she has the room laughing at Epstein’s island, she never looks back.
She powers through, gee’d on by a self-described “simmering rage”, in part a product of a unique biological response to pregnancy, and the enduring lack of pockets in women’s clothing. It’s a heady mix.
It takes a special brand of comic to transform what sounds like a horrible time with a traitorous liver into such dry, comedy gold. When it comes to the pocket drought, she takes aim via the Drag Queen community. It’s wonderful to hear the audience hold their breath before the wicked, but inclusive punchlines start landing – just delicious.
In fact, Michelle Wolf has it in for all sorts of communities, including the conjoined twin community. Oh and she has thoughts on folks in wheelchairs. Her schtick is unapologetic and hilarious, but without punching down.
That simmering rage sees no sacred cows, but it isn’t out to slaughter them either. Indeed, Michelle Wolf is looking for self-improvement, with predictably droll results. Her timing is impeccable, her wry delivery as satisfactory as popping bubblewrap.
Unsurprisingly, given her third-trimester status, much of Michelle’s set revolves around pregnancy, kids and the limited use of husbands, however well-meaning. Cue discriminating babies, and a treatise on staying entertained whilst breastfeeding.
“It’s wonderful to hear the audience hold their breath before the wicked, but inclusive punchlines start landing – just delicious.“
I’m not convinced her prolonged semen vs various baby goo bit can stand up to quite so much milking (pun not intended), but I almost died at her Audible joke – it’s compact, perfectly formed and devastatingly funny.
Further, her unflinching observations on society’s relentless isolation of mothers and memories of breastfeeding are both empowering and peppered with zingers. Wolf even throws men a sympathetic bone here and there, going so far as to defend their right to tell their partners to ‘calm down.’ It’s whip smart, daft, and like everything in her set, laced with a fondness for people.
She even manages to turn MAGA-originated rumours about her into a glowing dream of her life were she indeed a lesbian. It’s funny, as folks like to say, because some of her dreams ring very true!
In the final reckoning, it’s not just any comedian who can make such a cracking joke about shooting sprees and handbags, without leaving half the room horrified. What’s the secret? Not punching down, not making cheap gags at the expense of vulnerable people, just the idiotic culture that makes tragedy inevitable.
Michelle Wolf’s Fringe return is a classy hour of penetrating observation and cracking pay-offs. Amongst the ocean of rising stars at the Fringe, she’s the full-ascended deal.
Show details
Venue: Venue 33: Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ (Google Maps)
Date(s): Mon 11 Aug to Fri 15 Aug (5 shows)
Time(s): 8:30pm (60 mins)
Age recommendation: 14+
Price: From £18 (concessions available)
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