Molly McGuinness has two heroes in life – Elizabeth Taylor and Caroline Aherne.

 

The homage to the first is on display in a vivid turquoise swoosh above her eyes.  The second – well it’s a big comic act to follow – but Molly might be a worthy contender.

 

She’s done what no other comic at the Fringe has done – she’s laid out a buffet – and after warming up the room with some buffet-related crowdwork – she’s off.

 

Buffets put her in mind of funerals she’s attended – and the stress of seeing numerous Irish relatives laid out in their living rooms.  Make up choices for corpses are one of the things that bother her.

 

Molly’s relationship troubles are told as surreal little vignettes about falling for appallingly unsuitable men.  But everyone deserves love – so she’s brought a pack of shiny gameshow cards to see if anyone else wants them.

 

Molly also has strong views on breakfast buffets after working in a budget hotel.  And don’t get her started on ‘normies’ and their pedestrian ambitions in life.

 

This is a show bursting with ideas. Molly reveals she’s recently bagged herself a younger man, which launches on some thoughts about the habits of Gen Z.  It’s the little things that worry her – like the choice of chocolate bar   There’s a potentially uncomfortable audience interaction about styles of bum wiping – but Molly sails close to the wind and gets away with it. She has some urgent concerns about cunnilingus that she wants to share complete with demonstrations and diagrams.

 

This is an extra late night gig, laid on for the swarms of Oasis fans in town.  And there are quite a few bucket hats in the Saturday night audience.  But Molly, with a mix of audacity and northern charm, manages to bring the whole room happily along with her.  Eyes sparkling, she takes risks and gets away with it.

 

She’s put a lot into this show – and there’s a reason she’s really so happy to be here.   Last year Molly McGuinness was struck down with a life-threatening illness that left her in a coma.

 

She doesn’t tell you too many gory details – although you do get to see her tracheotomy scar. Instead, McGuinness takes you into her fever dreams, her visions of hell, and the places she went when she was close to death.  I’ll let you hear it from her – but it is a very northern version of paradise.

 

The story of this very serious illness is only a small part of this debut hour.  But it does shed light on why McGuinness, who previously came to Edinburgh as part of Best In Class, is so absolutely determined to make the most of being here.

She’s also created a brilliant dramatic ending to her show – in which her wildest dreams come true.