| Soho theatre, London
A brief but brazen set by the HBO series co-star shows a talent in full control of her own brand of scattershot comedy Emmy Award-nominated for playing a standup comedian, how good is Hannah Einbinder at being a standup comedian? If the success of HBO series Hacks has put any pressure on its star’s real-world standup, you could hardly tell from her London visit, which showcases an act in fine command of her distinctive comic persona. This Soho theatre outing may be more of an appearance than a show – it lasts only 45 minutes, and makes no particular effort to cohere. But it leaves a strong impression of a talent with more than just a hit TV show to offer. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Einbinder is the scion, after all, of a comedy dynasty: her mum Laraine Newman was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live. That’s not mentioned on stage, but Newman fille puts her identity as a dissolute daughter of Tinseltown front and centre. Her delivery is all studied LA drawl, surrounded by potent silences. She self-presents, and self-deprecates, as a 27-year-old casualty of weed, the ADHD drug Adderall, and 12 years of therapy. Her damage – all of our damage – is taken as read, and her responses to the world are the slow, sideways and dismayed responses of a not-quite-recovered stoner. At Soho theatre until 8 October. Continue reading... |
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