COMEDY

Not all comedians can get away with that sort of look-at-me-I’m-awkward-cute-and-still-funny type of act, but Mae Martin, perhaps because she genuinely is all of the above, pulls it off.

What I really liked about Martin’s show was the breath of topic within her humour.  Underpinning the show was her anxiety of life, YOYO (you’re only young once) and a general uncertainty of what direction she should be taking.  These are feelings at some point, we have all felt, and to juxtapose them with increasingly amusing anecdotes and songs was kind of lovely.

The gawky slightly nervous demeanour enabled the audience to feel safe and as though they could relate to her.  Hers is not the type of comedy where you’re terrified to sit in the front row, save the comedian verbally accosts you for your fine choice of plaid shirt.  This is not to say her comedy strays on the safe side, it is an eclectic jumble of songs about endless showers, Ke$ha rants and a startling accurate impersonation of Julia Roberts.

I think when Martin is at her best, is when she is just sort of, fucking confident.  She’s a clever gal; she knows how make an audience laugh.  Her portrayal of herself as a young, spidery 14 year old is a bit silly, but loud and full of the confidence of a veteran comedian.

Mae Martin is enticingly endearing, despite looking slightly like Sid from Toy Story.  I feel myself sort of willing her on throughout her set.  There are moments of brilliance from this lady and I’m crossing my fingers she’ll be back in Edinburgh next year.