At The Bus Stop

Music video made for the BBC, 2011

More Isy Suttie videos

Isy Suttie: Pearl and Dave
Live Review

Pearl and Dave is Isy Suttie doing what she does best: A cosy, tender, romantic story, illustrated with poignantly sweet songs.

Poignantly sweet doesn’t equal laugh-out-loud funny, of course, and the chuckles here are thin on the ground. But you will leave with a snug feeling in your soul, and the grumbled self-motivation ‘C’mon, Dave’ lodged in your vocabulary to call upon whenever you need to give yourself a boost.

The Dave in question is a quiet, modest accountant who lives with his mum in Suttie’s home town of Matlock, Derbyshire. He’s not good with women but still holds a candle for the well-spoken Pearl, who he met at the Skegness Butlins, years ago.

Suttie picks up the story when he finds her on Facebook and tries to revive this romantic interlude over a series of remarkably chaste messages and Skype conversations. Their interaction is initially based on the lies and exaggerations of many a date, before they relax into their real personalities.

The Peep Show actress is most often compared to Victoria Wood – female, Northern(ish), musician, domestic outlook – but here she’s striving for Daniel Kitson territory, of a gentle, sensitive, ambiguous story told with heart. She falls short of that – who wouldn’t? – but the yarn still boasts plenty of surprisingly moving moments.

She’s a strong actor, and her singing voice is a treasure, ranging from gruff Dave to cut-glass Pearl. But despite this, and the fact the characters are well-drawn, this still remains firmly a story; you’re interested in seeing how it turns out – which is perhaps not as you expect – but not completely drawn into their parochial world. Somehow there’s just a slight shortfall in the credibility, even though these are firmly grounded characters.

Yet there are some lovely comedic flourishes – the sad letter from a celestial star named in a loved one’s honour; or the sound advice on how you should deploy Tom Waits’s music, all of which add to this rich, rewarding show.

Skip to page: 1 | 2

Fantastically funny. Jazz song was really, really, good

Michael S, September 2005

Songs were well done, but she should work on being more likeable (e.g. less bad taste jokes). Definitely has potential.

Al, August 2005

A very charming young lady with exceptional comedic talent, I love the Dido material, class.

Lateef Lovejoy, August 2005

Isy is an exceptional presence on any comedy bill. Great songs, but above that, a naturally warm and confident performer. Puts an audience at ease from the second she walks on and doesn't dissapoint thereafter. Wonderful

Rik, April 2005

A brilliant performer. Well adjusted, clever, pretty and extremely quirky and likeable.

Alison, November 2004

Very funny comic. Intelligent, witty. Potential to be very successful.

Jason D, May 2004

A stylish newcomer with bags of brave bold ideas and an impressive rate of productivity that would shame most comics. This is a recipe for success.

Paddy Lennox, March 2004

Quirky but also very funny. It is nice to see someone new on the scene that has the courage to do something a bit different. I think she will go far.

Tracey Collier, March 2004

Skip to page: 1 | 2