Heidi O’Loughlin’s Edinburgh Debut a Delight

For her first solo Edinburgh Fringe hour, comedian Heidi O’Loughlin tries out a variety of topics. The New Zealander’s Tahitian heritage is up first in a spot of family history, as she recounts the inception of French Polynesia into her genealogy, the List reviewer Suzanne Black writes.

“Also on the roster are her experiences as a mature student at film school in London, a section that allows her to be self-deprecatingly charming. One of the most interesting sections covers her struggle as a female comedian between staying true to her principles and earning a pay cheque.

“But two set-pieces stand out, for different reasons. O’Loughlin has previously found success with the ensemble show Fanfiction Comedy in which the members take turns reading out stories they have written based on existing characters. She recites one of the best stories, giving this year’s more wide-ranging show a highlight. The second piece revolves around her very strong feelings about Simon and Garfunkel.

“With a casual, digressive style and a surface sweetness that masks the steeliness she displays when putting down hecklers, O’Loughlin has a lot to her credit and, with a more cohesive show, would be a delight to watch.”

Original article by Suzanne Black, The List, August 10, 2015.

Photo by Ed Moore.