Since things got a bit too real, the days of slagging off the English are behind Celya. It’s just not funny anymore. Nor is the fact that upon moving to England and rewiring her brain in English, Ceyla has regretfully lost the memories of her French childhood. The show takes a crack at digging deeper into the ethers of her core memory, hoping to find pieces of herself. But in all honesty, some of these memories are, in fact, uniquely hilarious.
Celya has a soft approach to comedy. There is something soothing about her presence. Unlike comics who scream and yell for effect, her collected demeanour is consistent, without coming across uptight or low energy. Her jokes are loud without using a loud voice to deliver them. Her anecdotes of the past let you meet the younger, cheeky Celya who so desperately wanted to be older. Falling in love and stalking a boy who would be in handcuffs if he felt the same, accumulating debt from a bakery to start a mini business. These were just some of the ways Ceyla attempted to speed up the ride to adulthood. But upon realising being an adult sucks, the memories of being a kid provides a priceless and much needed comic relief.
Though Celya proclaims her disdain for committing to whimsy over slagging off the British, the result is an hour of intimate entertainment that draws out the comedian’s ability to story tell. But she did manage to sneak in observations about some British oddities. She most definitely takes her time, there is no rush, no feeling of pressure from the audience to pick up the pace or scream and shout. And though the audience doesn’t always see the pay off in their patience, herein lies crux of the alternative humour within the show. Some appreciate the drawn out, chilled out delivery. So if you’re looking for a hearty laugh and in a gentle, slow-paced space, here’s a unique opportunity to do so.
Celya AB: Second Rodeo
19:30 @ Pleasance Courtyard – Beside
Aug 21-27