“polished comedic debut of queer experience and beyond“
Pedro Leandro’s debut hour starts with a moment of joint Fringe-weary prayer that results in us unexpectedly professing our love for him. A bold move, but one that becomes clear as we delve into his show. It’s also an equally bold move for Pedro’s first anecdote about being perceived to be a top shagger in your teens, before embracing his sexuality.
Pedro’s show circles around the central tenets of the search for validation and queerness. We cover topics from The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs, to relationships with exes, his father, the effects of negging, aromatherapy massage, the excusing of Alan Turing, mullets, and peer-pressure to watch The Wire, among many more. A particular favourite of mine was the explanation of ‘sit-down gays’ and their superior knowledge of the finer things in life (a new life aspiration: unlocked). The story-telling is well considered and at a measured pace – this is not a zippy one-liner set, but something much more considered.
There’s a gorgeous bit of theatrical acting (surely destined for Donmar, no?) around the life of a salt-of-the-earth audience member, who doesn’t care that the Guardian called him magnetic, which twists and turns into a tale of unexpected drama. There’s also smatterings of poetry and self-reflections of therapy, which all together might seem like one too many ingredients, and might be seen as a touch self-aggrandising for some, but the effect is undeniably charming.
There’s a piquant archness to some of Pedro’s proclamations, which are incredibly enjoyable and combined with a conspiratorial note means I suddenly want to know his thoughts on so many topics. The audience tonight was smaller than on other nights (it has been sold out before), and so naturally some of the reactions were less animated than they would be with a full room, but the giggles were still flowing. The takedown of particular creatives are among my favourite sections – and the final scene brings this together in a particularly knowing and funny way.
As the show ends, I want to spend more time in Pedro’s (magnetic) company. Let’s all take a trip together to that little patisserie on the corner (no, not Lannan, this one is far more chic) and gossip wildly. Alternatively, I know a darling little performance space at Pleasance, they call it Bunker 2. You should go.
Pedro Leandro: Soft Animal runs to 24 August, at 20:10 at Pleasance Courtyard. Tickets can be bought from: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/pedro-leandro-soft-animal