SARAH ROBERTS : DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? at The Bill Murray
★★★★
“Roberts feels at home on the stage, performing with a laidback confidence that sees anecdotes flowing seamlessly together”
According to Sarah Roberts, the only two things we should take away from her show are firstly, how hot she is, and secondly, how talented. Whilst you are entitled to your own opinions on her attractiveness, although this reviewer is firmly in the ‘certified hottie’ camp, Sarah Roberts’ work in progress show is conclusive in demonstrating she is indeed a talent to watch.
Roberts’ is a millennial with unashamed main character energy. It’s an affliction fed by an adolescence inspired by iconic noughties teen dramas. But the troubled glamour of Effie and Marissa can’t be matched in real life when you go to an all-girls school and don’t meet boys until you’re sixteen. Coming to terms with turning thirty, dealing with anxiety and discovering her sexuality all feature in this hour of stand-up, interspersed with plenty of pop culture references that will be music to millenials’ ears.
Roberts feels at home on the stage, performing with a laidback confidence that sees anecdotes flowing seamlessly together. Her cute, girly aesthetic and sweetly soft voice add to the charm. Suiting the main character vibe, she often reacts immediately to her own jokes before the audience has time to respond – remarking on how much of a ‘legend’ she is, or following the punchline with a breathy titter. This only adds to the fun – reinforcing the view that it’s Sarah’s world we’re all living in.
Despite that, it’s clear she still wants to be relatable – with her regularly taking the temperature of the audience. Whether that be asking who else attended an all-girls school, or auditioned for S Club Juniors. Unsurprisingly, some questions receive much louder cheers of familiarity than others. But that never impacts the laughter for the content that follows which, other than a bit about being Henry VIII in a past life, feels specific and fresh.
Visual aids help build a picture of Roberts, in case you didn’t know who she was. A badly cropped image of her face transplanted onto the body of a cartoon worm looms large over the stage through most of the show, whilst an extended bit about Candy Crush as a coping mechanism is supported by a slide show complete with tacky fonts and intricate transitions.
One might say that this show explores 21st century feminine identity and how it’s formed through media and the male gaze. But that would be far too analytical a critique. Really, it’s a show of ‘just girly things’ topped off with a vindicating dance number that’s relatable in its honest and unique perspective.
SARAH ROBERTS : DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? at The Bill Murray
Reviewed on 6th August 2023
by Amber Woodward
Previously reviewed by Amber:
Duck | ★★★★ | Arcola Theatre | June 2023
Kate-Lois Elliott: Gentrif*cked | ★★★ | Museum of Comedy | August 2023
Sarah Roberts
Sarah Roberts
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