Conservative Catholics are first in the firing line – and cheating comes up last in comedian Amelia Hamilton’s sharp show about morality, Moral Support, which played the Edinburgh Fringe this year.
Hamilton is young, smart, quick-thinking and deeply subversive. She is in command of the room from the first moment she steps on stage at Pleasance Courtyard. She is not just funny, but a funny rapper.
Moral Support is positive feminism at its best: it never feels like it comes from a hatred of men. It bubbles with creativity from the first moment while making every audience member feel like they’ve come over for a chat with their most fun girlfriend.
“I’m not Prince, but I’m not Prince Andrew” is one line from her set touching on the joy of comparing yourself with those worse than you. It’s an observation that is so real you’ll find yourself laughing.
The style of Hamilton’s comedy is provoking and insightful, very rapid-fire while always being sure of its destination. She can jump from graverobbing to engineering, from fashion choices (her “football cowboy” look) to arm wrestling.
It’s the rap interludes that give her the edge over other comics, though. Last year, she won the Best Newcomer award at the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her Fringe debut Forget Me Not. It’s a unique quirk that makes her stand out.
Hamilton comes across as one of the popular women who led a posse at school, and where she was followed by a parade of boys. She knew what she was about back then. And now, she finds that every ex has an ex with the same name, which is not only weird but wild.
I really liked this show. It’s clever, keen, pointed, and deals with audience interruptions and reactions well. Hamilton has a demonstrable USP and will definitely go far.
5 stars.
Amelia Hamilton: Moral Support was part of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
For more on Amelia, check out her website.
I reviewed the show from a recording supplied by Amelia’s PR.