Standing at an impressive six feet, Elf Lyons is a comedic force to be reckoned with. She has accomplished a lot in her twenty three years. In 2010, she formed the ‘The Secret Comedians’, a successful array of affordable comedy nights which have been performed in Bristol and London on a biweekly basis over the past four years. She’s performed at Six Fringe Festivals, is the co-director and producer of OddFlock Theatre and has stormed her way through to the semi-finals of this years ‘Chortle Student Comedy Award’.
I have no fear that Lyons, with her trusty red hat, will go far in the near future.
Emily, as her mum likes to call her, begins her beautifully nerdy show with a jaw dropping opening sequence to Katy Perry’s Roar, involving extreme choreography, cat onesies and aquatic displays. At this point, I should mention that all of the above effects aren’t actually shown on stage, but are actually described in meticulous detail. But I think that this version is far more entertaining.
Lyons is a natural comic, she talks to her audience effortlessly and treats the stage as an awkward second home. Every single joke sores and makes it’s mark without a single dud. Her timing is refreshingly organic and her delivery is incredibly real. Unlike a lot comedians up this year, Lyons makes her audience feel at home as she engages in what seems to be an actual conversation. Her set includes disastrous anecdotes of performing stand up to children, Game of Thrones inspired comebacks and rants about the practicalities of the German prostitution industry.
I should warn you though, that the majority of Lyons’ material is based on information about The London Underground, a topic she is clearly passionate about. Through out the course of the hour she performs a rap about TFL, recites her own tube-based erotic fan fiction, and acts out a screenplay dedicated to Harry Beck, the unsung hero behind the London Underground Map. Even if you’re not a rail enthusiast, Lyons’ enigmatic eagerness will keep you just as enthralled as her content does. And at the very least, you’ll leave with an advantage for your next game of trivial pursuit.
The show is free, so you’d be a nutter to miss it. I have no fear that Lyons, with her trusty red hat, will go far in the near future. Not only is she the potential voice for our generation, she also has the cutest cough up at the Fringe. This comedian is anything but Vanilla.
