If you stumbled into this show from the Royal Mile unaware of comedian Tamsyn Kelly, you would also be blissfully but pointedly unaware of its creator’s determination and the journey this show was taken to reach the point of performance for a jolly Edinburgh audience.
Another immediate challenge the comedian has faced is performing in ‘Spiderman’s lung’ in a cave in the Mash House basement. She manages to make the room feel like the O2 arena and creates a warmth that would easily translate into any medium and scale.
We are taken on a whistle-stop tour of her life with her brothers, disabled mum and abusive father and how she found solace at the home of her grandad who provided escapism with the help of Michael Flatley. Tamsyn’s sheer grit and sparkling presence cracks the rain soaked audience in an compelling hour of storytelling.
Tamsyn’s energetic delivery kept the audience on side, and her playfulness with the audience was generous and spirited, as if we were all equals, almost like extended family members all there for a good craic. This makes her an extremely likeable and versatile talent who will go far. She is a fast, brutal, captivating comic with grit and humanity.
While this style of comedy may not be packed with punchlines, how many performers learn the additional life skill of river dancing for one of the most moving finales of a comedy show I’ve seen? Definitely worth another star for this star in the making.
Tasmyn Kelly: Petroc runs until 25th August. For ticket information visit https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tamsyn-kelly-petrocÂ
