Londoner Gina Yashere has come a long way in recent years, going from Hackney clubs to regular appearances on US television.
The globetrotting gagsmith had also come a long way to get to this Soho run. "From Canada via Wood Green," she said as she introduced herself. Last night’s show, direct from her major north American tour, promised much but never totally delivered.
Yashere was certainly not lacking confidence. While other stand-ups stick to proven scripts, she happily spent the first third of her set on topical riffs, from the royal nuptials — wondering if Kate will wear Primark — to the couple who left a swanky restaurant without paying.
This was a tasty hors d’oeuvre, but what followed was often slightly bland. An extended routine about Australian racism, for instance, included a cheese-based gag similar to one Stephen K Amos has peddled for years.
There were certainly flashes to suggest that Yashere’s Stateside success is down to more than novelty value.
A comparison of Somali pirates using canoes to "do a driveby on a unicycle" was neat, and her expletive-fuelled critique of rap added energy to proceedings.
But while she was excellent in parts, a randomness to her material stifled momentum. More focus could elevate this ex-lift engineer into UK comedy’s premier league.
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Gina Yashere
