Tiff Stevenson knows who she is, and it isn’t a ‘Karen’, and she also doesn’t like the fact that that particular name is being used by the wrong people and in the wrong way.
As she tells us tales of her tumultuous life, including her lockdown weight gain, a mother that makes a mockery of men that think they invented negging and how she is late to everything, even Zoom meetings in her own front room, we can see that Tiff is no ‘Karen’. Hell no, she’s a strong, independent woman, and the real issue is that scares the shit out of some people.
Sexy Brain is partly about mental health, the title of the show being the term she has given her own brain which is affected every single day by her self-diagnosed ADHD.
This is expertly portrayed when she assaults us with a truly impressive aural cascade mimicking the voice inside her head on an average ‘train of thought’ journey, one where the back carriages seem to be derailing.
She fully agrees that it’s a wonder she hasn’t gone quite mad… Well… Quite madder.
Tiff is a true professional at her craft, who has a long pedigree in writing, acting and stand up and this show doesn’t disappoint as she delivers her material with a skill that comes with refining natural talent over time.
As she paints a picture of how busy it can get inside her head she shares stories of the time she ruined her own wedding proposal over a film choice, and another where she thought her ‘Auntie Tiff’ attitude may have killed a rooftop gathering of men, just the usual stuff we all go through, right?
On a side note, if she ever wanted to do something other than comedy her absolute talent of inventing names for situations could definitely be the way to go though, impressive is an understatement and worth listening out for.
The show has lots of pure fun moments but also addresses some absolute injustices in the world that are designed to make you think. You will find yourself nodding your head vigorously or shaking it sadly many times, but all the while laughing as loud as you can muster.
Everyone in the venue is lapping up every word, and as the show finishes you wish she could stay and chat for another hour.
Brilliant.
Tiff Stevenson: Sexy Brain, 20:00, Pleasance Above, August 10-29
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tiff-stevenson-sexy-brain
