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LUISA OMIELAN Going from rock bottom to top of the tree
T he world of stand-up comedy is by now packed with tales of acts struggling to get half a dozen punters in a room before reaching the stage where they are turning them away in their droves, world domination just around the corner. The likes of Bishop, Bridges and Millican are three such instances. It’s not hard to feel that Luisa Omielan is well on her way to becoming the latest act lurching from stand-up secret to comedy’s next big thing.
Having appeared on the Free Fringe in 2012, she played a limited run at the Gilded Balloon last August (normally the preserve of Edinburgh Comedy Award-winners or household names) with audiences enamoured by her sad / happy tale of aiming for glory when your world has hit rock bottom.
What Would Beyoncé Do?! is the name of the show which finally got the comedy industry buzzing, a ‘bootylicious’ (her description) and ‘life-affirming’ (most critics’ view) merger of stand-up, song and silliness. Our own reviewer earlier this year concluded that Omielan ‘spins her cray-cray material into gold (probably American Apparel latex, accessorised by New Look)’. November appearances at The Stand find the comic tucked into some multi-act line-ups, but many predict that, before long, Omielan’s name will be up in solo lights, drawing in crowds by the many, many dozen. A bit like Ms Knowles herself. (Brian Donaldson) The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 5 Nov; The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 6–Sat 9 Nov.
HITLIST THE BEST COMEDY EVENTS
E N R O H T A L L U E V E T S
✽ Mark Thomas After being one of the major hits in August, the mischievous
agitator takes his 100 Acts of Minor Dissent out to the lucky people of the United Kingdom. The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 21 Oct.
✽ The Sunday Assembly From the mind-loins of Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones comes the notion of an atheistic church full of wit and wonder. See feature, page 25. New Empire Bingo Club, Edinburgh, Tue 22 Oct; Community Central Hall, Glasgow, Wed 23 Oct.
✽ The Lumberjacks The Canadian trio of Stewart Francis, Glenn Wool and Craig Campbell get all funny together. See preview, page 65. The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Thu 31 Oct; Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 2 Nov.
✽ Ed Byrne How can the jovial Dubliner be
in his 40s already? Ah well, he’s making the best of it with his new show about being that age. See First & Last, page 120. Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 2 Nov.
✽ Barry Humphries It’s Dame Edna’s creator on his last ever tour. See 5 Things, page 65. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 5–Sat 9 Nov.
✽ Luisa Omielan See preview, left. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 5 Nov; The Stand,
Glasgow, Wed 6–Sat 9 Nov.
✽ Daniel Sloss Still far too young
to be as good as he is, the Fifer’s comedy juggernaut carries on apace. The Garage, Glasgow, Fri 8 Nov.
17 Oct–14 Nov 2013 THE LIST 63
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