Susan Calman: This Lady's Not for Turning Either

• Peggy Hughes
• 11 August 2012

This article is from 2012

Self-deprecation and a rock-star start from the First Lady of Scottish Comedy

Susan Calman is at her most passionate and political this year. Equal marriage is on the agenda, but she kites wild and surprising tangents with a lightly manic and highly engaging touch. In the spirit of the list that forms the core of this gleeful hour (‘Reasons Why No One Should Marry Susan Calman’), here’s why she takes gold: she has the audience in frenzies of enthusiasm from the off with a rock star opening. She wrings belly laughs from the most surprising places: her obsession with pesky chin hairs and DCI Jane Tennison. She is natural and honest and idiosyncratic and odd and genial and brilliantly defiant.

After an hourful of self-deprecating banter and stories, her call to arms on the topic of equal marriage makes for an emotionally charged ending that’ll stay with you; let’s all do something to change someone’s mind, change the law, change the world. Susan Calman may not be President of the United States of America (yet) but she’s got my vote for Scotland’s First Lady of Comedy.

Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 27 Aug, 6pm, £11--£12 (£10--£11).