Review

REVIEW: Samantha Pressdee: Covered – 2*

Radio Ha-Ha! talks Ha-Ha!

Written by Sarah Exton

Review date: 7th August 2019

The beauty of the arts and comedy in particular, is that it allows individuals to tackle difficult topics in a cathartic way, which can take the form of entertainment, education and art; it neither has to be one or the other. Samantha taking to the stage alone is brave, however I feel like the manner in which she approaches topics unintentionally works against her.
As an activist, Samantha shares pictures and stories of her fight against oppression and austerity, and her determination to take on the system. However, all battles have their struggles. For Samantha, this came in the form of an internet troll, and being ignored by the police after trying to approach hate with comedy. On the whole, Samantha has an immense amount of interesting stories to tell; whether comedy is the right medium for her to tell these stories is questionable.

This show was my introduction to Samantha, so I had no idea what to expect. As an individual, her level of passion towards numerous causes is admirable, and she seems like an all-round lovely woman. As a comedian, it was a bit tough to watch. Many jokes didn’t seem to land, and others just made me cringe. Based in such small venue, it would’ve been difficult to put on a show that didn’t come across as am-dram. 

However, I truly believe that it’s important Samantha is telling her story, and the playful approach she has in this show is somewhat endearing; although can run the risk of appearing childish at times. With some proper guidance on her pacing and delivery, Samantha could have the potential to become a strong political comic in the industry.

Catch Samantha at the PQA Venues @ Riddle’s Court (Q3), every day until the 26th at 4PM. Get your tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/samantha-pressdee-covered