Clem Bastow : Escape From LA
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Clem Bastow : Escape From LA

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Escape From LA – is it stand-up? Not quite. It’s more an anecdotal account of the couple of years Bastow spent living in Los Angeles. Compelled to move there by her teenage dream of becoming a respected screenwriter, unfortunately, as the title forewarns, the mission was a failure.

In short, Bastow explained how her earlier aspirations were reignited by career ennui, which prompted an impulsive move that had an ultimately disappointing outcome. To be sure, she threw in plenty of stabs at humour. Some moments were indeed very funny, while others were of the “That’s funny, Clem” variety, but it never rolled on the momentum laughter. Similarly, Escape From LA didn’t comprise uncanny twists and turns, nor climb towards a big moral zenith. What was most significant about this performance was Bastow’s storytelling ability, which turned a tale of diminishing self-belief into a compelling and perversely feelgood viewing experience.

Helping the action along was Bastow’s sidekick, DJ Slig, who inserted corny sound effects and music, as well as narratively relevant pre-recorded voice-overs. Along the way, Bastow’s mental state took a battering, but it wasn’t all ‘me, me, me’. Questions of privilege and critiques of the entertainment industry and contemporary journalism also cropped up. But nothing got shoved down your throat, as the weightier moments were offset by a Huey Lewis interlude or a bout of endearing self-deprecation.

BY AUGUSTUS WELBY