★ ★ ★ ★
In the overheated performance space, the act with air conditioning is Queen. Alice Brine is definitely a Queen, but not just of cool air distribution, but of being unapologetically hilarious with a brilliantly ambitious comedy set. An hour which takes in; people who look like potatoes, a Facebook page creation addiction and period jokes that she won’t unabashed by, she embraces the stereotype that that is what ‘female comedians’ go on about, and turns it into something great.
At the heart of Brinestorm is Alice’s ADHD. Her New Zealand vernacular and in-your-face enthusiasm turns an education in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder into a set that is relatable for a neurodiverse audience. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard a performer refer to ‘neurotypicals’, it’s nice to hear.
Alice’s comedy is tonally surreal but packed with jokes, callbacks and clever set pieces; don’t be fooled by her brash exterior, Brine has constructed a show bordering on genius.
We’re so glad that comedians, especially women, are showing the world their ADHD diagnosis, making jokes about their neurotype, not in a self-deprecating way, but in a, ‘this is what I go through, and I want to be funny about it’ way. She never uses her diagnosis as something for the neurotypicals to be titillated by, in fact, she pitches so much of her material to her neurotribe, many in the audience, that there is a real camaraderie in the room. If you want to see into one of comedies most original minds, you can’t go wrong with Alice Brine.
Alice Brine: Brinestorm – Gilded Balloon Teviot – Turret 16:20 (1hr) Aug 3-15, 17-28 £9/8 16+
