I am on 'the fat jab' and I don't care who knows it, says Karen Dunbar
Gayle Anderson
Three stars
Portobello seemed a fitting place to catch the current Karen Dunbar tour. It's said that the 99 cone was invented just across the road from this venue. The perfect place then for Chewin' the Fat's ice cream van lady to serve up her patter with extra sauce.
The epic 80 date tour began in May and ends in November. It's taking the scenic route through Scotland with dates everywhere from the Isle of Skye to Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Karen shadow boxes her way onto the stage to the Theme from Rocky.
Physical humour is still her forte and gets the biggest laughs of the night. Doing the Slosh, drunkenly devouring the entire family Sunday roast, bringing Mrs Munro, Chewin' the Fat's nervous biology teacher, back to life – Karen's face isn't just mobile, it's peripatetic.
There's honesty throughout this show. One of her best jokes, she admits, was stolen from Lily Savage aka Paul O'Grady. What you see is what you get. And what you see is a little less. Karen also confesses that she's been taking 'the fat jab.' Her description of which is so funny there's a real temptation to follow her example and just nick it.
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A few bodily function gags turn full bawdily function before we hear about Roberta, the new woman in Karen's life. That's the name she's given the BAFTA she recently received for best supporting actress in a video game. Comedian, writer, actor and DJ – this former YTS worker is a proper Renaissance woman and she's rightly proud of it. A heckler at this point is hit with one of the funniest put-downs I've heard in a long time.
Karen's stories – much like this current tour – often go off on wild rambles. Lots of side roads are taken. You're never quite sure where she's going to end up. At times, she seems genuinely surprised herself. Hogmanay parties, community spirit, methods of shopping – things ain't what they used to be and Karen's mining that nostalgia seam for all she's worth.
The final part of the show focuses on her TV work. The love and warmth still felt for the characters Karen portrayed is evident as she leads the audience in a rousing game of polish off the punchline. Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your catchphrase – now that's how to work a room.
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