When she had a heart attack two years ago Susie McCabe thought she’d taken everything life could throw at her.

 

Then things got worse.

 

Divorce, heartache and the death of a close family member left her having to rebuild her life from her best friend’s spare room.

 

From this set of frankly terrible circumstances Susie has built a resoundingly joyful show. Everyone’s favourite lesbian makes sure she wrings the laughs from every outrageous twist of fate.  She’s a natural born storyteller – but there’s a whole heap of skill in the way she transforms quite this much sorrow into hilarity.

 

While there are plenty of homegrown fans in the room, McCabe is careful to explain the vagaries of Scottish culture to an audience that contains a sizeable chunk of both English and international visitors.

 

The familiar themes of football, religion, food and family life all play a big part in her story.  But McCabe steers well clear of the obvious while deliberately subverting expectations. Her observations are grounded in everyday reality and fuelled by an irrepressible sense of fun.

 

Although she does huff and puff and stamp her feet, her fury is directed at the little irritations of life.  The big things she genuinely seems to take in her stride.

 

McCabe has remarkable rhythm and a delightfully lyrical turn of phrase.  She often sneaks in a poetic flourish – usually downplayed with a sulky grimace or a sneer.

 

There is a flash of genuine rage when she turns her attention to politics – specifically to the legacy of Thatcher and the rise of Reform.  When she talks about the lack of opportunity for younger people there’s a burning sense of outrage which unites the room.

 

Happily, the story of her terrible year has a genuinely heart-warming and surprising ending with McCabe tying up all the comic loose ends with an artistry which leaves the audience on a high. The conclusion of her story might even bring a wee tear to your eye.

 

 

 

Picture © Andy Hollingworth Archive

 

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