Fringe Review: ROSALIE MINNITT: CLEMENTINE II, Beside at Pleasance Courtyard

Photo credit: Em Humble

Lady Clementine is back, but this time - penniless! No longer in search of love, but something bigger - a purpose, a dream! Don’t worry though, she’s still illiterate. After a sellout run at last year’s Fringe and at London’s Soho Theatre, Rosalie Minnitt brings her sequel Clementine II to the Fringe this year and it is as uproariously glorious as the last. 

Pouncing onto the stage, Lady Clementine is almost something to be feared - Minnitt’s exuberance is surely unmatched (perhaps worldwide?), and the energy doesn’t drop for one single second. Careening around the stage, we learn how Lady Clementine has (or hasn’t really) grown in the past year or two and what she has in store next. It’s London. The classic answer to the follies of country folk: London. With great whimsy and panache, Lady Clementine sets off on her quest down south!

Minnitt is unstoppable in this laugh-a-minute character comedy, quoting the Rest is History, Justin Timberlake and just about everybody in between. A splendid parody of how life looked as a women in the times of Austen, Minnitt brings to the stage the chaos of one with little perspective on the rest of the world. It’s an astute delivery of the class, divine and wealth through rollicking comedy. But Lady Clementine means well and so on we go, taking on the King and country, and a handful of men in between.

The Sylvanians were cast once more after their debut roles in the original Clementine, and props are used to their usual wild abandon. Alongside her razor-sharp wit and the sort of puns that endure eye rolls, Minnitt also bursts into song. Because, why not? The lyrics are ridiculous and entertaining and her talent is palpable as she turns to parody the musical theatre world as well.

Limitless and liberating, Clementine II has every bit of charm that the first show had but with a bit of added musical flair. Minnitt is radiant onstage as she tackles audience participation, several interesting accents and with Clementine, a revolution. Utterly fabulous, you wind up wanting to be Clementine’s friend - or at least hope for a trilogy.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Hannah Goldswain

Clementine II plays at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 30 August, with further info here.