The first time I ever saw Mae Martin, a wild rabbit ran across the stage and audience, which I took as a sign that she was one to watch (I should mention that this was a gig on St. Arthur's Seat in the grass!). She has been brilliant every time I’ve seen her since and her show 'Slumber Party' which I caught this year was no exception.
I thought after her TV appearance on Russell Howard’s Good News this year the room would be packed, especially since it was a weekend. She immediately put everyone at ease by embracing the awkwardness of a small audience, instead of causing tension by shaming the empty seats as so many comedians do.
Although numbers were small she did have a few sweetly eager fans in the audience. As Mae walked passed us in the queue going into the venue, I heard one young man turn to his friend and say ‘Oh my god! Mae said hi to me!’
This fan’s response says a lot about Mae’s comedy. She has that ‘best friend factor,’ by which I mean she has an incredibly relatable vulnerability to her stories that make you feel like you could very easily hang out together. Personally, this is one of my favourite qualities in a comedian and something Mae excels at – you really feel like you are getting an honest glimpse into her lovably anxious mind.
She admitted that the title for the show was based on one joke she wrote before writing the rest of the show and that the rest of the show might have been slightly stretched to fit into the slumber party theme. There were however numerous enjoyable tales from her gawky adolescence in Canada, along with a soundtrack of the Backstreet Boys playing as we walked in – which was the slumber party music of my era at least.
Mae has more stand up and stories and less songs than in previous shows. Her song about legendary American actor and producer Don Cheadle is still one of my favourite things in existence, but the choice to minimize her use of guitar has worked for her, since the biggest laughs of the evening were not musically based. She has recycled some material from last year which was strong but her new stories were hands down the highlight of the show.
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Danica Priest
Mae Martin: Slumber Party is on from now until the 25th August at Underbelly Cowgate at 5:10pm – buy tickets HERE
