Mary Bourke: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Live Review

There are so many beautifully crafted turns of phrase in Mary Bourke's show that there really should be a massive queue jostling to get into this tiny, out-of-the way room.

As she notes at the top of the show, and the reason for the 'contrary' of the title, this isn't what comics usually do for a Fringe show. There's no catharsis, no sentimental journey or revelations, just pure stand-up. And she delivers.

She's performed on the circuit for more than a dozen years and the experience shows. Bourke's utterly composed on stage, performing with a relaxed delivery, and the soft sing-song of her Irish lilt contrasts nicely with her punchy and somewhat acerbic material.

Indeed the hour is a mixture of the poetic and the acidic. She punctuates the pomposity of the Mumsnet website with list of unreasonable demands on the Albanian nanny with the refrain 'am I being unreasonable?', reading like feisty performance poetry. Elsewhere Metro's poll of the most inspiring woman is cut through with a sardonic edge highlighting the vacuous nature of media, and there's a similarly sarcastic deconstruction of Dan Brown's incredibly clunky prose.

Bourke has the uncanny ability to draw you into to her world and on to her side, there's a lovely gossipy piece about a young American comedian with whom Bourke gigged in Dublin who has with a lot to learn about comedy, and history and geography too.

Hers is a no-nonsense approach. She'll stand no messing, as three fellas, who were obviously not committed to the show, found out. Unfortunately it happens a lot in free shows, because the lack of financial investments means some punters seem to think it's OK to drift in and out. Sensing that they weren't entirely happy Bourke asked them to leave, which they duly did. Despite noting how awkward that had made the gig and that she had to win around the audience again, she didn't really have to, she had us on side already.

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Just extraordinarily talented and funny. Go see!

Mandy Allan, November 2011

Saw Mary at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. The funniest act there. Had the whole audience howling with laughter. Why is this very talented woman not on television?

Thomas McGrath, August 2011

Saw a fabulous act at the Street in Edinburgh, Mary can certainly raise a smile and we would go see her againVery entertaining and very funny :)

Stevie Reid, August 2011

Saw mary at the Street in Edinburgh. Crap venue but great show.Went back to see her a second time. Very witty great fun even with a harf-assed audience in the afternoon.

Ian cameron, August 2011

Saw her last night and she was superb - she covered a variety of subjects but each and everyone had the audience roaring with laughter - I can't wait to see her again and am surprised by the amount of negative comments here about her.

Alex Finch, May 2010

A tired act with gags that were dated when Noah's ark set sail.

Riera, March 2010

'Performed' at the Rose and Crown in Hawridge, Bucks last night. Dreary and lacklustre set based around an unhealthy and tired obsession with anal sex. Didn't take kindly to heckles and eventually even the microphone gave up on her, causing a minor strop. No recommendation from me I'm afraid.

Mr W, September 2009

Mary is much better than this. She has a lot of charm, and extremely inventive and clever material.Unfortunately clever and inventive material doesn't always work when there a lot of hens and stags in. I hope you will see fit to review her at a better gig.

Paul Sinha, June 2009

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