Get Fit Quick on the Poster Review – Sassy Comedy Delivered with a Blush

“I’ve had some good news, I’ve had some prosecco.” Today’s performance finds Amy Gledhill in a celebratory mood, with good reason: she’s been nominated for the Edinburgh comedy award. One can certainly see why. Her show, Make Me Look Fit on the Poster, is a heartwarming hour of autobiographical comedy, loosely themed around body image. Gledhill navigates the dating world as a single woman while reflecting on her value in contemporary society. The theme may seem nebulous, but Gledhill’s blunt northern humor and good spirits keep the audience engaged throughout.

Perhaps the cheer is a bit less effusive than in her 2022 debut. There are moments of levity, like those involving Toby Carveries and her misadventures at Go Ape, but there are also more troubling tales. She recounts a hurtful letter from a boyfriend that still haunts her and a sleazy incident on a train. These stories don’t so much delve into body dysmorphia, as seen in Hannah Platt’s work on the Fringe, but rather body uncertainty. Gledhill explores her own struggles with describing herself and how others perceive her. Descriptions like “You look so … bubbly!” echo throughout.

These tentative impressions are only loosely woven into the show, which often diverges into unrelated anecdotes. A segment involving the game “Would you still love me if … ?” with an ex-boyfriend ends rather anticlimactically. Another story paints a vivid picture of Gledhill’s newfound freedom as she revels in living alone. A particularly memorable piece on “willy kissing” is laden with blue humor, leaving the audience with an indelible image of a tipsy Gledhill precariously maintaining her balance by biting down on well, you get the picture.

Gledhill’s prowess in delivering bawdy comedy with a blush is further demonstrated through her reenactment of an erotic massage-chair experience. While these raunchy tales do little to develop the body-image theme, they collectively create an hour of delightful standup. It’s clear that Gledhill’s celebration with prosecco is well deserved. Just don’t call it bubbly.

Source: The Guardian