Comedic actress Veronica Milsom has briefly traded television stardom for stage performance, presenting her one-woman sketch show, Do Not Irony. While it’s not always the stuff of side-splitting hilarity, you can count on Do Not Irony, a quirky hour of comedy, to lightly tickle and amuse.
Do Not Irony presents a palatable blend of stand-up and sketch comedy. It’s a diverse hour, Milsom portraying a game-show host, a bible-verse heckler and a radio station’s resident magician, among many other characters. It comes as no surprise that Milsom meets the demands of Do Not Irony with such ease – after all, as a cast member of the ABC comedy program Mad As Hell, switching roles must be second nature to her by now. Each of Milsom’s portrayals are highly entertaining and executed well, her acting expertise pronounced.
Milsom occasionally draws audience members into her sketches, unwitting participants plunged into the comedic deep end without warning. These particular segments echo Thank God You’re Here, tapping into the show’s improvisational dynamic. It’s a brave move on Milsom’s part, the festival debutant fearlessly risking her skits by entertaining unknown quantities. Here’s hoping audience members continue to come through for her as the season progresses, as these particular segments have show-stealing potential. An absurd weight-loss advertisement, as well as Milsom’s portrayal of a highly-discriminative casting call, also rank as highlights.
As for the rest of Milsom’s sketches, there’s some room for improvement. Most notably, she has the tendency to milk bits beyond their worth, transitions ultimately met with polite applause rather than the sizeable laughs. It reflects more upon the necessity for editing, rather than the strength of her material. Milsom could switch out from sketches much earlier, on more potent punchlines, polishing already-great ideas in the process.
Overall, while the show has its share of kinks to be worked out with each performance, Do Not Irony is good fun and a satisfying comedy festival debut from Milsom.
BY NICK MASON
