Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Caitriona Dowden acknowledges that as a comedian, it’s important to be realistic about what you can expect from an Edinburgh Fringe run before revealing her personal aim for the month: to be officially recognised as a saint by the Catholic church. Well, it’s probably a more achievable goal than breaking even.

So the scene is set for a charming hour, quietly but effectively celebrating Dowden’s nerdiness. Drawing on her degrees in religious and medieval studies, she has created a show in which ‘ecclesiastical Latin’ is a punchline and the Monk of Byland a reference point.

Defiantly arcane, Dowden creates a distinctive alternative world in the image of the swottiness that has defined her since childhood. A couple of truths revealed with a mix of self-deprecation and pride early doors expose just what an outsider she was as a girl, overachieving in class if not in social skills. But here she acts as if her obsessions are entirely normal, and it's a winning approach. 

Her delivery is still and soft, yet she is in control – partly because audiences who come to a daytime show about religious admin aren’t going to be the rowdiest. There is a devil’s advocate in the crowd, but Dowden appointed him to argue points against her canonisation, true to the original meaning of the phrase.

To see what precedents have been set on the road to sainthood, Dowden shares the holy exploits of the likes of Christina the Astonishing and Hildegard of Bingen to explain that not every miracle is impressive or practical. Hack she is not.

With great geekiness comes great pedantry, and Dowden – who won the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2022 – offers her rewrite of Ernest Hemingway’s famous six-word tragedy as she considers she could do better. And in real life she fired off an 11-page missive to the government while still at school, opposing changes to national curriculum reading lists.

The personal revelations merge seamlessly with the esoteric, creating a well-put-together show with a distinctive and delightful vibe, quietly celebrating obscure knowledge. Does that count as a small miracle?

Review date: 15 Aug 2024
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth