Rachel Parris ‘Live in Las Vegas’ LIVE @ Brighton Komedia, 15 October 2014

After a sing and clap along to Cher’s evergreen Walking in Memphis – a part of the show that that is apparently not part of the show – we get into the meat: the set up here is that Parris has been forced to work as a compère in a glitzy Vegas show to pay off some gambling debts. Or something.

If that sounds disingenuous it’s because the main weakness of this hour is the gimmick used to hang the consistently excellent songs and detailed character work on. It’s a weakness she seems to acknowledge; literally making the audience agree to go along with the conceit and glossing over several plot points. She needn’t have bothered. Parris is an engaging presence out of character and totally convinces in.

Comedy songs can be an excuse for lame parodies and hack lyric swaps but these pitfalls are sidestepped with aplomb. Each track is impressive in its own right; the call and response during the ‘sexy’ R ‘n’ B number snuck in an innovative punchline I won’t spoil here and the careful construction of the songs speaks volumes of her clear love for the genres she’s spoofing. She also has a highly adaptable voice that sells each song.

Mock country music singers are a dime a dozen but Parris finds a neat twist which adds pathos and originality to hers. It’s a totally committed performance. However she is almost fully overshadowed by the headline act; a monstrous Celine Dion-alike with an ego that soars higher than her top notes. Frankly, she could sustain a whole hour with her wayward ideas about feminism and insincere audience banter. Parris uses the character to show off her improv chops; taking ‘song requests’ from the audience. Her final number would have been an excellent end to

the show but unfortunately the plot needs resolving so it concludes with a whimper rather than the bang it deserved. Proof if proof were needed that Parris should let the characters and songs speak for themselves.

Paul Manderlay