Laura Davis starts the show by bounding into the room, shouting. They have kindly provided us with fans but threatens us if we steal them.
Davis has started having sleep paralysis, a vivid image where a man stabs a knife into their chest, so they start therapy. Davis explains this show was written in a dark place, but they have since come out the other side.
The whole show is very energetic as Davis is vibrant. They tell many stories about their life living in Edinburgh as well as memories from back home in Australia.
Since starting therapy, Davis has been prescribed to start going on walks, this makes for some very funny moments in the show, such as the comedian sharing how they like to eat hot croissants in graveyards to make them feel alive.
I have heard many jokes about J.K Rowling however Davis manages to take this to the next level with their originality.
The show ends with a devastating ramble from the Aussie. It appears to come out of nowhere and completely shifts the tone of the show. Whilst Despair is Beneath Us does cover some darker topics, this rant is completely existential. It is not totally out of character but does leave you a feeling you do not expect from a stand up.
Despair is Beneath Us is a well-formed show, Davis is great at commanding a room and turning a chaos into something beautiful.
Laura Davis: Despair is Beneath Us, 17:45, Monkey Barrel 2 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, until August 24
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/laura-davis-despair-is-beneath-us
