Latitude review: Hannah Gadsby

Hannah Gadsby is, by her own admission, extremely jet-lagged.

This may go some way to explaining her disjointed, spaced-out opening bit, scatter-shot with non-starters as she attempts to slip into a routine about her extensive collection of maladies.

When she eventually gets moving, it’s still very slow going. Full sentences are scarce, let alone punchlines.

In her attempts to engage a cooling crowd, she defensively points out when she’s made a joke, as though the audience’s lack of receptiveness, rather than a lack of technique on her part, is the issue.

The targets she sets her sights on are sharp and ripe for satire, from the barbs of online trolls to an ironic take on rape and the ridiculousness of women’s perceived culpability. Good points, one and all, but today at least, Gadsby doesn’t make them particularly well.

The false start it turns out, is not at all indicative of her ability, as when she finally does hit her stride, its a wonderful thing.

Recounting her most embarrassing moment, an incident in which her gawky, heavy-set teenage self becomes wedged into a children’s water slide, Gadsby provokes some delightful, rib-tickling imagery.

Poetic in relaying her miseries, Gadsby is far from self-pitying, painting a farcical but realistic portrait of youthful shame and panic.

Sadly, her winning set-piece may have come a little too late for most of the crowd.

Date of live review: Saturday 19 July 2014 @ Henham Park, Suffolk.