Helen Bauer: Bless Her

Monkey Barrel

 

It’s the feelings of community, support and warmth – in addition to laugher – that are evoked over the course of this show that prove that Helen Bauer is a comedic machine. It is virtually impossible to have a bad time with her at the helm. Bless Her is an hour of transcendental comedy where Bauer both celebrates and critiques the idea of self love, using everything we know and love about her comedy whilst showcasing how she’s grown as a performer, comedian and writer.

 

In Bless Her, Bauer draws from multiple topics that seem unconnected at first, although this assumption is proven wrong as the show progresses. With the pace of the hour, we hardly notice as Bauer moves and progresses the show; the segues and tangents are completely unnoticeable without a conscious check-in, such is the fluency and fluidity of Bauer’s performance. Separately the topics are quite innocuous and unconnected at face-value, but Bauer leaves no loose threads, bringing it all together in a masterful stroke of comedy. This can be attributed to her relaxed and informal style; Bauer just talks to us, as if she’s narrating a story to her peers, framing each topic of observation in such a way that we can’t help but consider her point of view.  She has such a keen eye, which is exemplified in her confidence and sharp punchlines that hit the heart of the matter in a way that means not only is she right, but it is difficult to find any way in which she may be wrong. 

It’s the feelings of community, support and warmth – in addition to laughter – that are evoked over the course of this show that prove that Helen Bauer is a comedic machine.

Within this show, Bauer plays her greatest hits, commentating on the social dynamics of a female friendship group, modern social expectations and realities. Her observations on these phenomena are always incredibly affirming to bear witness to the point where being at a Helen Bauer show feels like being inducted into a club where where all the secrets of the universe are told to you, bringing forth a kind of “exactly-ness” that makes us laugh because of its accuracy. Bauer takes more of a risk with this hour as she extends what she can already do well talking in the abstract, universal experience and takes the personal confessional an extra mile to delve into more vulnerable realms.

 

It’s the information – sharing and quiet support that although not the main focus of the hour, bleeds through in the subtext and makes us become consciously involved, which only boosts our reactions to Bauer’s comedy. Bauer simply commands our attention, everything in the room is completely under her spell. She masterfully manipulates the atmosphere to suit her needs, shifting the atmosphere between the two extremes at will.

 

Over the course of Bless Her, Bauer provides us with an hour of non-stop laughter. It is truly a fine hour of comedy. Watching this hour feels like being a part of something, and that is ultimately in the way that Bauer gathers us to laugh with us. Bless Her should be on everyone’s list this Fringe. 

By Katerina Partolina schwartz

Photo Credit: Raphael Neal