God love Suzy Bennett and her newly discovered ‘Gumption’. By giving this a capital G in the title of her latest Edinburgh Show Suzy emphasises just how far she has come in battling the demons of mental health and bad relationships to bring this self produced gem to the Fringe.
2006 Funny Women Awards winner Suzy is one of the funniest women I know. She is warm, generous, attentive and hilarious company in person and on stage. From her pride in the homemade bunting to some anatomical oversharing by male suitors on social media Suzy never passes up the opportunity to squeeze out the last bit of humorous humility to eke out a laugh.
I’ve seen all of Suzy’s work and this is the most authentic so far.It is her second solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe in which she plays to her insecurities in a tale of love and loss told with an honesty and warmth that is just as likely to make you cry as laugh. There’s also a good twist, or should l say twirl, at the end and after a week of getting its level, there is still an element of impromptu-ness which will keep it fresh for the next two weeks of the festival.
This all takes place in a small venue (or ‘bunker’ as Suzy describes it) but it’s a show with a huge beating comedy heart. There’s no big promoter or agent involved or even a flyering team.The whole enterprise is fuelled on Suzy’s self styled gumption! So, go tell your friends because this woman deserves a much bigger platform for her comedic talent – a television show or even a seat around the Loose Women table?
★★★★
You can see Suzy’s show at Laughing Horse at The Counting House (venue 170) at 4.30pm 18th-23rd August and 25th-30th August. For more information click here!
