COMEDY REVIEW: Lou Sanders Shame Pig ★★★★★

Lou Sanders: Shame Pig
Bristol Improv Theatre
Saturday 18th May 2019

As seen on Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Russell Howard's Good News, and currently participating in the eighth series of Taskmaster on Dave, Lou Sanders is a comic who I have admired for some time now; her sarcastic and witty way in expressing the different subjects we all face with such confidence is something to be admired, and Shame Pig, her most current show which premiered at Edinburgh Fringe last year before going out on tour, is top quality genius writing from a woman who is fully in her prime.

As her warm up act, Luke McQueen is the perfect choice to follow Sanders around the UK on this tour, as he is the one who lives with her 24/7, and his half an hour of material is nothing but polished, from talking about character acting to his upcoming TV appearance, to be filmed later in the week at the time of writing, regarding a lecture about Time Travel. Contrary to what he he believes though, I do hope that we soon see him on panel shows such as Mock the Week, especially after his segment regarding the host Dara O’Briain, and what McQueen does at home whilst the show is broadcasting, an in-joke for us as the audience you might say!

Coming onto the stage following a rapturous applause and a dodgy microphone, Lou Sanders introduction and ad-libbing around the technical issue is what is what makes her one of the standout comedians of our generation. Her interaction with the audience is genuine, with a rather brilliant exchange which occurred in this instance with a man who looks like he’s falling asleep. Her brain props representing her moments of shame is skilful, from moments such as her father's seven wives, or her time being interviewed at pontins, all mixed together with soundbites and lighting effects for the darker humor of her set. She flows through her set with ease, and can’t help but plug her merchandise, and speak of the products that has tried and tested, one batch especially that cost her £450, out on the audience.

Overall, McQueen and Sanders provide a quality night of comedy, with slick timing and such a history between the two that the chemistry between them, though strictly platonic, is electrifying to witness, and with the Edinburgh circuit just around the corner, I cannot wait to see Sanders upcoming show, Say Hello to your New Step-Mummy. Now I just wished McQueen would sort out this time travel, so we as an audience can relieve this gig all over again!