Demi Lardner: I Love Skeleton

• Arusa Qureshi
• 20 August 2018

This article is from 2018

Boundless energy bails out unsatisfying segments

When you walk into a venue and the performer has a lampshade on their head, you might be able to predict the kind of show you'll be getting. But Demi Lardner's I Love Skeleton is a totally bizarre yet entertaining insight into the world of a comic whose erratic ideas fall in line with the kind of humour that matches that of the YouTube generation.

Despite there appearing to be no real plot during Lardner's set, the free-flowing nature of her surreal sketches are carefully planned, with a mix of short skits and absurd audience participation drawing everyone in for the full 45 minutes. She has a list written out on a giant roll of paper to her left, which spells out her numerous award wins from Sydney, Melbourne and more, that she knowingly points to at moments of total incoherence.

She's certainly an endearing performer but some bits are unsatisfying in their realisation, taking away from Lardner's boundless energy on stage. But despite this, her seamless switching between lip-synced sections and short fragments of conversation, along with her innovative use of the room provide plenty of amusing distractions as the show moves ahead at full speed.

Assembly George Square Studios, until 26 Aug, 8.05pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10).