Harriet Kemsley seems like a wild child all grown up, and with the arrival of a new baby it’s time for her to get serious about raising her daughter. Kemsley is likeable and relatable making the hour you spend with her joyously fun, filled with consistently great jokes.
Becoming a mother can really make you realise all the awful things your child is going to have to struggle with. Especially for girls, problems with body image, and beauty standards are a constant worry. But Kemsley mocks the enemies of progress and highlights just how daft they really are. She is so confident in herself and that is something you can be sure will be passed on to her daughter.
It’s this confidence that Kemsley exhibits on stage and it’s so vitalising. She’s bright, witty and her set is full of wonderful misdirection and snappy punchlines. Harriet uses irony to hilariously take down these societal issues that really have no place in a young girl’s life. Her set as a whole is daft and it’s a bit rude but that’s only to Kemsley’s credit having written a really good script. And when the occasional prop appears, it’s always met with thunderous laughter.
Kemsley indulges us in her life both before and after the baby and how it’s changed her. Harriet clearly did have a party side to her when she was younger and when explaining her first time leaving the baby, it’s apparent that it’s not totally gone. Times have indeed changed and Kemsley is pleased with the societal progression she thinks she is seeing because ultimately, all that matters is her daughter’s upbringing.
‘Honeysuckle Island’ is an entertaining piece of stand up, led by a great comic and filled with big laughs and heartfelt moments. There is no doubt that Kemsley’s daughter is in great hands, and she can only hope to grow up to be as funny as her mum.
Harriet Kemsley: Honeysuckle Island
21:10 at Monkey Barrel (Carnivore) (Venue 180)
August 17 – 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Harriet%20Kemsley%3A%20Honeysuckle%20Island%22
