Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows Review by Esther
Abby Wambaugh would like you to know that this is not a show about miscarriage. Despite the show’s description—“Abby awoke in hospital after a late miscarriage and, high on anaesthesia, decided to become a comedian.”— it is definitely not a show about miscarriage. To reduce it to being a show about miscarriage would be a complete disservice to what is a delightful debut hour. Miscarriage is barely mentioned, honestly.
The show does what it says on the tin: Abby came up with 17 concepts for full comedy hours and every concept is so good, they decided to show the first three minutes— don’t bother timing—of each.
Abby has the ruddiest cheeks one will see at the Fringe, which means you instantly warm to them, and it also means Abby has complete free rein over the audience. Their imitation of a hoover has them sucking on the shorts of someone in the front row; their ‘old man doing parkour’ impression has them clambering over the audience who more than eagerly offer helping hands and supportive shoulders; and there is no dispute when the American comic describes themselves as ‘the most famous comedian in Denmark.’
It is a truly wonderful experience to see how game the audience are, to see grown-ups so willing to play. It’s a credit to Abby, their infectious energy, and the silly atmosphere they create. They even manage to persuade someone to do the worm, which no one has done successfully since the ‘80s. There are constant applause breaks throughout the show; some go on so long, Abby sometimes has to pause before they can continue.
The show ends with the audience fully enraptured; Abby receives a standing ovation and people have tears in their eyes, whether joyous, poignant, or both. A triumph of a Fringe debut.
Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows runs until Aug. 26 at 19:15 at the Pleasance Courtyard – Attic.
