Review by Steve Bennett

Jo Caulfield instantly strikes you as the sort of friend you'd like.

It's an attribute almost every comic strives for - that despite months of sweating blood over a routine, the aim is for it to come across with the same amiability of a mate just shooting the breeze.

But Caulfield doesn't try to ingratiate herself, other than a few necessary opening pleasantries. She's more like a real-life pal you like for their no-nonsense straight talking, in complete denial of the almost inevitable truth that they turn their acidic tongue against you whenever you're not around.

And Caulfield certainly is acidic. Smart, funny and cynical, too.

It's a gift of being able to be bitchy and likeable at the same time she shares with Graham Norton, so it comes as little surprise to find that the darling of Channel 4 directed this one-woman show.

As for content, Caufield has hardly limited herself by choosing to talk about life's big themes - love, work, friendship and so on. Almost every comedian's routine would fit into these broadest of categories.

And the bottom line is that this isn't cutting-edge stuff. But it is well-observed, it is gleefully cynical and it is very, very well done.

Textbook stand-up at its best.

Review date: 1 Jan 2001
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett