one4review | On 21, Aug 2019

The show opened with a gentle stroke on the head for those of us nearest the aisle, and a reference to a mid-nineties pop song, a niche and risky opener that Ms Howerska named and claimed with confidence. Ms Howerska may have tried to put her serious face on, but you get the impression that it’s not really her style, and she’s much more comfortable – and funny – with being blue, and silly, and mildly outrageous.

Not all of the audience were on board with her material – which included her delightful husband and his eligible-or-otherwise brothers, her family, the difficulties of making friends in new places, and the venue – but a small number were clearly poorless. Ms Howerska has an easy, unthreatening presence, though the fourteen year old male in the front row who became a sort-of barometer for the show (‘you, close your ears!’, ‘he’s shaking his head at me’, ‘a smile!’) might not agree. As audience interactions go, it was fairly innocuous, and allowed Ms Howerska to demonstrate her crowd-work skills and bring the audience into the show.

There’s an irreverence to Ms Howerska which she turns on everything, including herself and her own life experiences. An upbeat comedian poised for a giggle.

Reviewed by Laura

Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
19:30 (until 25th)