I hadn't heard of Ms. Evans before the Fringe. She's been performing award-winning comedy since around 2008 and has appeared on numerous BBC radio and television programmes as well being a key member of the Showstopper! The Improvised Musical troupe. I didn't know this prior to the show so filed into the theatre assuming this would be stand-up. Happily it was largely musical, which was a very pleasant and welcome change of pace.
Ms. Evans has a great voice, and was superbly backed up by a percussionist and a fabulous keyboard player. The show's theme was, with so much seriousness, so many issues and so much hopelessness in the world, it's time to bring some fun, nay, joy back. And so this show comprised some stand-up but mainly happy and positive songs, including a brilliantly improvised one based on an audience member's dreams of what he had wanted to be as opposed to what he became (wanted to be a marine biologist, ended up a banker - cue good-natured boos).
Ms. Evans was a great performer. Highly charismatic and energetic she bounded into the audience several times and happily sang her lungs out with expert accompaniment. She was a hugely funny and appealing act and, yes, she did bring the joy and banished for a short while at least the realities of life outside the door.
Thoroughly recommended, and made me want to seek out more work from her.
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