Fiona Allen has a strong northern accent that recalls a tradition of British male comedians who could turn the frustrations of ordinary life into material.
Hearing that voice coming from a woman gives the familiar formula another perspective, while Allen brings plenty of warmth to her observations. White Lies is built around an attempt to get out of a party hosted by annoying neighbours, but the evening becomes about much more than the party. Allen moves through suburban life, family relationships and the complicated business of being a daughter, with her Spanish mother providing some of the most affectionate material. She does a compelling job of bringing her mother to life, and the accent and transformation feel like another character in the show.
There is also a sharper thread running underneath the comedy. Allen talks about the way creative people can be looked down upon, as though what they do is somehow less serious than conventional employment. It is a recognisable frustration, particularly when creative work is treated as a hobby rather than a profession.
Allen allows these observations to emerge naturally from conversation with the audience. At one point she asks a question and receives complete silence. Rather than letting the moment disappear, she turns the lack of response into material. It is a small example of how quickly she can pick up on what is happening in the room and make it part of the show. There is something reassuring about White Lies. Allen does not need to push everything towards shock or confrontation. Her comedy comes from family life, neighbours, relationships and the absurdity of suburban existence.
After Smack the Pony, Allen has spent years moving between comedy and acting, and there is a natural confidence in the way she tells these stories. She can be pointed without becoming bitter and personal without becoming confessional. White Lies is an affectionate hour about the things that irritate us, the people we cannot escape and the families we cannot quite leave behind. Sometimes the most familiar lives provide the best material.
Fiona Allen: White Lies runs at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 24 August.
