Review by Steve Bennett

The result is a set more about a polite, liberal girl trying to negotiate her way through a multicultural Britain without committing any socially mortifying faux pas. And although her own insightful experiences as a second-generation immigrant certainly come into play, she’s just as likely to talk about such suburban concerns as raising a baby or the feral youth on the streets.

It’s universal, accessible material, delivered with irresistible, exciteable energy. That’s not to say she isn’t sharp and opinionated; just that the points are made with stealth rather than a sledgehammer.

She is warm and funny, with a routine that cracks along at a brisk pace. Jokes are paramount, and you’re never more than a few seconds from another punchline. As a performer, she’s charming and bubbly – and surprisingly versatile, easily slipping into the accents required for the little character sketches that illustrate her entertaining monologue – from Greek matriarch to the street patois of youth.

Some comics have based whole careers on just one character like this, but, Khorsandi keeps it brief, offering just enough soundbites to paint the picture, with no flannel. As in her whole routine, she ensures the set-ups are brief and to-the-point, for maximum effect.

These charcterisations add to the variety in tone and pace that make her such a joy to listen to, with laughs coming thick and fast – and from all sorts of unexpected directions. Forget qualifications about being one of the best female comics around, or one of the best ethnic acts – Khorsandi is fast emerging as one of the best comics in the UK, full stop.

Review date: 3 Jun 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett