Isabella Charlton finds her comedic niche after a bizarre beginning to life forces her to work through her trauma on stage for all to see.
Charlton quickly reveals that her father, who is 12 years her mother’s senior, had affairs with multiple women, including her brother’s nanny. Charlton’s mother even uncovers a diary of his with the name of every woman he has slept with.
A highlight includes a reading of the transcript from a tape recorder that Charlton’s mother places underneath the bed to catch the torrid affair with the nanny. With help from the audience, Charlton tries to decipher the meaning behind her posh barrister dad’s unusual phrasing while talking about sex.
Some aspects, however, feel rushed and have the potential to be further developed. There is a lot of hilarious material unique to Charlton that works in her favor, but a slight reworking to focus on the Private Eye aftermath would push it over the edge.
Now, Charlton clarifies that she loves her dad despite what he has done and that she is used to it, having grown up always knowing that is what her dad was like. He would even try to flirt with women by getting them to check on her in the girls’ bathroom when they were out and he was waiting outside.
An interesting aspect Charlton includes is how her parents’ actions and ways of loving have impacted her dating life. Charlton builds a story of a decade-long email exchange with a childhood ex that leads to her becoming her worst fear, the nanny.
The sprinkling of personal anecdotes as well as telling the story of her father makes for a more dynamic show. From getting kicked out of boarding school to meeting a slew of half-siblings, Charlton’s telling of her childhood is enough to make your family seem normal.
(3 stars)
By Melissa Findlay
Gilded Balloon – Patter Hoose
21:40
Aug 3 – 11, 13-25
