Review: CHARLIE RUSSELL AIMS TO PLEASE, Pleasance - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Photo credit: Anna Gibbs

If you’re familiar with Mischief Comedy, then you will know who Charlie Russell is …. And if you’re not, then you really need to be!

Written and performed by Charlie Russell as a one-woman show, it just feels like you’re at a great party with a really funny friend, rather than being part of an audience at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The focus is to please everyone and no, it is not impossible! Or is it? What about pleasing the person who wants to please everyone else? Russell explores what makes people happy and no-one is permitted to leave until this is achieved!

It contains a bit of everything - literally! Musical theatre, slapstick, improvisation, dance, sport, poetry, stand-up comedy, if the audience name it, it’s in!

However, behind the need to make everyone happy and to make everyone your friend is pain and how can that pain be made to go away? How can we learn to like ourselves too?

It’s a hilariously funny hour that makes us look at ourselves and our behaviour. It is most definitely one to catch at this year’s Fringe.

Unpredictable and belly achingly hilarious!

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Charlie Russell Aims To Please plays at Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival until 27 August, with tickets available here.