★★★★★
Layered. Layered is definitely the best word to describe Jain Edwards: She-Devil without giving any of the winding, unreliable and nonetheless sparklingly delightful narrative away.
From her first few words, Edwards artfully unsettles the audience, acknowledging the misogynistic attitudes that prevail for women in comedy even now. From there, Edwards leans so hard into satire that it could be painful if it weren’t so hypnotic, with her focus mainly on gender roles and expectations, continuing the theme of misogyny, but also dipping into themes such as classism and criminality.
One moment during the show acts as a slight ice bath back into the real world when Edwards reveals that she discovered that she was autistic later in life, but this feels a bit like coming up for air after a deep dive into the wild stories she’s been weaving, and she smoothly guides us back into the depths shortly after.
To some, this revelation may seem out of place among the fantastical claims Edwards makes during the show, but actually it’s the crack in the mask that gives so much context to the mask itself. The constant pressure to conform and be likeable, remarkable yet not too much, to fit with society’s expectations (but in the right way) while managing an intersectional identity is deftly portrayed throughout the show, not to mention the power and danger in moving beyond the mask.
It’s definitely not a show for everyone – it is a strange show – but if that doesn’t faze you, it’s well worth a watch. It’s a bit like watching social commentary doing a burlesque show, yet very funny. Go see it.
Jain Edwards: She-Devil is on at Daisy at Underbelly, Bristo Square until August 25th
