If you will allow a brief blast of blowing our own trumpet we predicted success for Janine Harouni before the Edinburgh Fringe. Sure enough she returned to London laden with various trophies and a Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer nomination.
Harouni has just embarked on a Soho run and it is quickly obvious why she was a hit. The London-based New Yorker is a natural anecdotalist with a compelling story. Superficially it is about her relationship with her Trump-voting father. But things are not that simple — it is wider fable of compassion, tolerance and reconciliation.
Harouni paints a gloriously vivid picture of her Staten Island youth, all Sopranos attitude, no Sopranos action. The tale shifts gear, however, after a life-changing experience. Dramatic details are punctuated by polished jokes or subtle mimes, such as her mother visiting her in hospital while licking an ice cream.
This is an incredibly smooth set, maybe almost too smooth, with some judicious jagged edges. Despite her smiles Harouni has bags of that Sopranos attitude, as a satisfying takedown of a racist reveals. Thoroughly deserving of every plaudit it has received.
Until Saturday, then Oct 21 and Dec 16-21 (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
