Catie Wilkins: A Chip Off the Odd Block

While children can be so cruel, parents are nothing less than a walking embarrassment to their offspring. Especially if they, like the blood-line guardians of Catie Wilkins, are an over-emotional firecracker (mum) and a cold, pedantic robot (dad). Marking her Fringe debut with A Chip Off the Odd Block, we hear all about the many flaws of her parents and how the comic fears that she is finally turning into them. It may sound like the kind of thing you’d hear a circuit comic spending two jokes on in their club set but Wilkins’ boundless enthusiasm is infectious as she portrays her nearest and dearest as a hopeless anal-retentive (papa) and a wired loose-cannon (mama).

She’s not even put off by the terrible decision to allow a trio of latecomers to gain entry a mere 30 minutes into the show. You and I might think it polite to shuffle in quietly and take a seat at the back: not this lot who march straight to the front row, giving the ever-generous Wilkins little choice but to make continued reference to the fact that they won’t get many of the references or any of the call-backs. Still, this is a charmingly feelgood and wry show about irritating individuals.

Udderbelly’s Pasture, 0844 545 8252, until 29 Aug (not 15), 8pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8.50–£9.50).