Tamsyn Kelly: You're Welcome

• Murray Robertson
• 6 August 2018

This article is from 2018

Cliched collection of characters with undercooked material

Taking to the stage as a cockney man, Cornish comedian Tamsyn Kelly presents the first of multiple personae. This opening character, Ben D'Ovary, is an archetypal estate agent: loud, braggadocious and irritating, and while a call-back will later add some subtext to her performance, this sledgehammer characterisation is jarring, overplayed and underwritten.

Later on there are moments of faltering audience interaction including a date scene which provides the evening's biggest laugh, although sadly that comes courtesy of a comment from the crowd. Kelly later portrays an irritating posh Londoner and then an East European performance artist, before adopting her most successful character: herself. As Tamsyn Kelly she performs a short piece of stand-up which is uninspired, but something of a relief after the preceding personalities.

Between skits, scripted conversations are played back which feature Kelly conversing with her mother over the phone, and it's these short scenes that show the most promise. When she's not overacting, Kelly displays an easy-going and engaging charm, and her mother makes a perfect foil for her measured delivery. But these sweet interactions are buried by cliched characters from which the comic struggles to escape.

Underbelly, Bristo Square, until 27 Aug (not 15), 9.30pm, £10–11 (£9–10).