Komedia: Gemma Arrowsmith: Earthling

Gemma Arrowsmith: Earthling

Studio at Komedia

Sat 17th February

In 1977 NASA launched Voyagers 1 and 2 into deepest, darkest space, carrying with them carefully selected information about life on planet Earth. Cast out like ‘a message in a bottle into the cosmic ocean’, golden phonographs containing sounds, music, diagrams, speeches and more are drifting through the vast unknown, waiting to be intercepted… Have they already been discovered?

‘Humans are the self-appointed guardians of Earth, though they are not doing a good job and are vastly outnumbered by other species...including the Beetle',  is a fitting introductory remark on the subject of humans, delivered by a respected alien professor who begins Arrowsmith’s one hour, one person sketch show. With the help of Wikipedia, video clips, multiple accents and an astounding imagination, Arrowsmith reflects on the idiosyncrasies that characterise the human species. Outstanding wit and passion-fuelled energy, power hilarious and educational sketches which supply us with the fascinating reasons behind our choice of representations to our universal neighbours, or not in the case of the Beatles song ‘Here Comes the Sun’. Censorship of the human body leading to a more abstract notion of reproduction, the omission of arrows from solar system diagrams and an ECG of a woman newly in love, are just a few of the points of discussion.

Exceptional writing talent, recognisable from 'The Now Show' and 'The Tracey Ullman Show', blended with a childhood space obsession and delivered in a fervent performance ignites our curiosity and compels us to deeply reflect on that which we take as normal. This is a stellar, cynical, observational comedy which emphasises the astonishing potential of humans and their future, so long as they do not blow themselves up.

4.5/5

gemmaarrowsmith.com/gigs/earthling                                                              

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