You can only imagine how Lucy Pearman’s home looks between Fringes; a Wonka-like production line of weird props in various stages of preparation, perhaps undergoing rigorous testing for the onstage hi-jinks to come. Plus, slid in somewhere, the fantastically awkward costume she’s chosen to wear, for a month. This year Pearman is playing the moon.
In several frequently brilliant previous shows the absurdist comic went more grotesque, character-wise, which always made the front row a bold choice – not that anyone further back could breathe easily. But this time her moon is a people pleaser, just trying to put a nice show on despite threats of reprisals from celestial party pooper the sun.
Pearman’s attempts at getting to, on and around the stage are half the fun here, as she sports what looks like a customised pop-up tent, a big one, plus a couple of enjoyably rude resident aliens. Other props fly round the room, there are corny moon gags, the crowd participation is unfailingly polite, and the whole thing moves along at an agreeably steady pace. Well, it is set in space.
It may not change the world, but Lunartic is a lovely way to spend a lunchtime.
Lucy Pearman: Lunartic, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 24 Aug (not 11, 18), 1pm