Thanks to UK television, we’ve seen English comic Sara Pascoe show a quick wit on panel shows like Would I Lie To You, and a general knowledge broader than that of many comedians on QI.
In her stand-up show I Am a Strange Gloop, local fans may have hoped for some more of the original thinking seen there, or on Pascoe’s Live at the Apollo spots.
The show’s MICF blurb informed us that content would relate to the difficulties of domestic life with small children, had later in life. Whilst this sounds like well-worn territory, given Pascoe’s background, we would have expected a more novel slant.
Some content has been covered more effectively elsewhere: Celia Pacquola or Anne Edmonds have talked about the challenges of being a “geriatric mother”, and Kitty Flanagan has wrung laughs from observations on how it’s better to have children when very young.
Pascoe’s set had some amusing comments on how a woman’s view of hygiene can change once she becomes a mum. However, given an almost full house, there weren’t so many loud laughs across the hour.
Perhaps recalling Pascoe’s earlier interest in current affairs, there is a potentially interesting bit on scientists stitching mice together and observing that the younger one causes the older one to stop aging.
In a previous show, it’s likely that Pascoe would have interrogated the moral consequences of such a discovery. That doesn’t happen here. There is a call-back about this, giving us some structure. However, fans may find that the show is rather more gloopy than it is satisfying.
Sara Pascoe: I Am a Strange Gloop
Supper Room – Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Performance: Saturday 29 March 2025 – 7:45pm
Season continues to 12 April 2025 (various venues)
Information and Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au
Image: Sara Pascoe (supplied)
Review: Jason Whyte