Review: Aalex Mandel Dallal: Where was I?, Comedy at The Caxton- Brighton Fringe

(Photo Credit: Megan O'Neill)

Aalex is overwhelmed. She has a sharp, overthinking mind and life keeps on life-ing. So in this alternative comedy show, she would like to invite you in to sit back and relax, whilst she unpacks what’s been going on in her life in the hopes of finding some kind of clarity. 

This work in progress has been around since February this year, where it was performed at Leicester Comedy Festival. After its next performance at Brighton Fringe on the twenty third, it will be heading to Hastings Comedy Festival and Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, before a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe from the seventh to the thirtieth of August. 

Dallal establishes the laid back atmosphere very quickly and she keeps the lights up so that she can see everyone, meaning that the environment feels comfortable enough for us to embrace the lack of a distinct barrier between the performer and the audience. 

It’s more akin to a coffee table chat with friends than a formal comedy performance, so we can collectively embrace the chaos of the tea that is going to be spilled. The idea of audience interaction becomes exciting, which is a rarity for me. 

Bearing in mind that the show is a work in progress, it still feels underdeveloped at the moment.

There are a lot of interesting subjects that Aalex explores, such as what a body clock means for different people and travel apprehension in the form of a game of ‘worst case scenario’. There are some briefer ideas about the inner critic and a ‘what’s in my purse’ joke, which could have been great. Alas, the comedy doesn’t quite land in a way that it otherwise might because the pacing is off and the material doesn’t have the room it needs. 

Dallal’s live edits also have so much comedic promise.

The show comes across not only as chaotic in the fun sense, but unfortunately, so disorganised that it’s hard to decipher the deeper through line until the last second where Dallal realises that there isn’t enough time for the main subject that she wanted to bring up in her show.  

The thing is, that deeper through line that does emerge, albeit so last minute, is absolute gold dust. The message that humans are messy and imperfect, and that in itself is beautiful. Loud and hectic minds are just as worthy of listening to as quieter ones. It's worth taking a moment to meet someone where they are at, you might find you both breathe a bit better. 

This show has a lot of untapped potential that could make it both hilarious and powerful with more time and further development, especially given how strong it already is at establishing a meaningful connection between the performer and the audience. 

A solid foundation for a story worth sharing. 

** Two stars

Age rating: Fourteen plus

Content notes: Strong language, audience interaction/participation, references to mental illness- varying

For more information and tickets…

For the Brighton Fringe show on the twenty third : https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/aalex-mandel-dallal-where-was-i/

For the show at Hastings Comedy Festival: https://embedded.jokepit.com/comedy-in/hastings/aalex-mandel-dallal-where-was-i/52206