The show's slogan, "Beauty Is Laughter", sounds like nonsense, but that was the only notable blemish in last night's search for the funniest new female comedian. There were 10 finalists and not one stinker.
Stratford actor Andi Osho, 34, was cream of the crop, but at least six would have been worthy winners.
Opener Katy Schutte was a ukulele player with a marketable line in kookiness. Runner-up Joanne Lau subverted the idea of the submissive oriental with a sharp, sassy set. Nat Luurtsema, in only her tenth gig, was too quirky for belly laughs, but showed significant promise. Isma Almas appeared in a burkha and stormed it until she removed her veil and lost momentum. By contrast turbo-charged Dubliner Sharon Mannion, who came third, started at fever pitch and stayed there. Her gags about boozing were unspectacular but driven home with so much confidence resistance was futile.
Lisa Alabaksh whizzed through an assured range of voices, from concerned Asian gran to streetwise teen. Bookish rap fan Emily Haworth-Booth boasted about her sexy figure, which sounds less funny on the page than it was onstage, while Katie Mulgrew's varied material struggled to make an impact. Which you could not say about Andi Osho, who grabbed the gig by the neck and span observations about Nigerian men and women into pure award-scooping gold. It was a tough act to follow and Whitley Bay songsmith Victoria Cook was good but no match.
Incidentally, Brownie points to compere Zoe Lyons, who is retiring her letterbox-mouthed Cherie Blair lookalike routine and is blossoming into an impressive all-rounder.
NIVEA Funny Women Awards Final
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