Hannah Hamilton
It’s all lust and longing in this comedy split-bill. Saoirse O’Hooligan and Layla Adam take to the Fringe with Leviathan X Asmodeus, two half- hours full of candid, unapologetic, and kinda raunchy hilarity.
Saoirse is first on the bill, tackling the ‘leviathan’ that is all kinds of relationships. It’s great to see a Scottish comedian unpack the curious dynamic of being LGBT in small town Scotland, which makes for some great material. She also talks about the perils of looking like a 1940’s housewife, awkwardness that arises from your brother using Grindr, and her relationship with her Irish grandfather, among other things. We get to know O’Hooligan through her relationships, like with her grandfather, and his love of football and bad jokes.
An extended section of storytelling about a school friend’s fish is absolutely ridiculous and completely hilarious. O’Hooligan really shows off her talent for writing a complex punchline, with a flair for prosaic material. The material demands a close ear to catch the finer punchlines woven in, and it’s very rewarding for those who do so. Her crowd work is also acerbic and hilarious, a really enjoyable watch.
Then there is Layla, with ‘Asmodeus’. This is said to be, at the top of the set, a show about lust. Layla tells us about being set up for arranged marriage by her parents and why that really isn’t going to work for her. She’s open and ready to share about what she’s looking for in life. Quite rightly, this involves good sex, but that can be hard to come by. Keen to get the audience involved and ask for their embarassing stories as well, Adam really asks us all to get comfortable with the intimate.
She’s a very candid performer, speaking comfortably with the audience. It’s kind of like chatting with your pal, if your pal was actually funny. With a great bit about her boyfriend’s family sharing a hairstyle, this is a hilariously debaucherous half hour. She is a confident, charismatic presence onstage, the audience can rest assured they are in good hands with this comic. In contrast to the first half, this comedy feels more off-the-cuff. It’ll catch you off-guard with some big laughs throughout as Layla glitters onstage.
This is definitely a split-bill worth seeing, as these guys are certainly on their way up to being big names. There’s something for everyone and for a free fringe show, it’s kind of a no-brainer. These two are funny, cutting, and joyous.
Recommended drink: Classic pint, it’s versatile and always a good time.
Catch Leviathan x Asmodeus at Pizza Geeks Easter Road – Back room from 8th to 31st August at 21.30 (1 hr). This show is part of PBH Free Fringe.
Finlay Clench
Salvador Kent
