REVIEW: Helen Bauer

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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beautifully crafted comedy

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Helen Bauer is at this year’s Fringe after just having gallbladder surgery. That alone deserves a reward, but oh boy, she’s got a great show on her hands. 

Over the course of a well-constructed and tight-knit hour, we cover topics including (but not limited to): motherhood, and maternal relationship between daughters and sons; the intricacies of the group WhatsApp and what’s normal to gossip about; levels of therapy and compassionate voices towards our young selves; why tall women are great conversationalists, and our secret allies hiding among men; and existential crisis about personal hygiene, and the ghost of Queen Victoria. 

With ease and deftness, we’re encouraged to gather in, as Helen drops secrets with a conspiratorial air, including things that are thought about but rarely aired, before arcing back to wide-ranging proclamations and challenging the cultural expectations. It’s so funny, wholly relatable without being twee or trite, and the audience are with her every step of the way. By the time she’s finished an exquisite argument around extra leg room seats on planes, I’m practically ready to follow her into battle. 

This hour zips along, with no lulls in pace or awkward segues. Just enough bite to cause a few intakes of breath, but she’s in total control the entire time. In the climax of the show, where she discusses her relationship with food and the reasons for her younger self behaving the way she did, are delicately handled, whilst still full of comedic elements.  

Given what is written above, it would be easy to write off this show as something light and fluffy for millennial women (and admittedly, I am very much part of this demographic) but these themes have a far wider range too. We’re just not talking about these things, and we should be. Gather up for Helen’s show, and maybe we kick-start this revolution ourselves, for the sake of all our younger selves, and those to come. 

Helen Bauer: Bless Her runs from 28 July to 24 August, at 15:20, at Monkey Barrel 1. Buy your tickets here:  https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/helen-bauer-bless-her