By Lisa Clark
Jo Caulfield warns her audience at the beginning not to expect to come away from her show having learned something earth shattering, or moved by a deeper meaning about the universe. Jo is an observational comedian, in fact one of the best. She’s got a lot of experience to draw from and she’s itching to share it.
Pearls Before Swine is a delicious title for a somewhat world weary comedian who’s always been fairly snarky but now takes no prisoners. There’s just enough self doubt there to keep us on side. She’s been living in Scotland with her Scottish husband for many years but still wonders sometimes if the Scots are complimenting her or being sarky at her. She feels uncomfortable at posh parties but also explains why parties aren’t really fun for anyone out of their 20s.
The most fascinating part of the show was a sort of scientific study she undertook by going out with her husband on his all-male “Blokes Pub Night”, curious as to how they interact with each other. I’m sure her presence somewhat mollified their usual behaviour and thus made the outcome less accurate, but it was interesting none the less and of course Jo had us in fits about their inability to connect intimately. Their sharing of knowledge about their little obsessions and hobbies rather than their lives.
Her material about incontinence pads is hilarious but my favourite bits are when she comments on recent news events and hangs shit on other celebrities, garnering gasps and applause. If you want an hour of fabulous laughs from a mature entertainer who accepts no nonsense but will not let you down, Jo is your comedian, she’s fantastic at comedy.
Jo Caulfield performs Pearls Before Swine at The Stand 3 at 19.10 til Aug 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jo-caulfield-pearls-before-swine