‘Not My Finest Hour’ – Alexandra Haddow’s debut solo hour – is about a transgression in her twenties, why we are drawn to ‘wrong’ things, tales of her hometown, and dating disasters. It’s a good, solid show that could become truly great with a few tweaks.
Haddow is a relaxed performer; you’d be mistaken for thinking she’d been in comedy forever rather than a few years. The comedian has a background in journalism, and it’s clear she’s a great writer, but sometimes her delivery feels like she’s a little uncertain of the strength of her jokes.
The audience lap up the tales of the affair she had in her twenties with a much older sports presenter (no, not that one) and losing her virginity to a guy who dumped her shortly afterwards. Some of the segments could be a little tighter and snappier; sometimes, the show feels like 45 minutes of good material stretched out to an hour.
The dating stories were in parts relatable and others absurd, but what is truly joyful is Haddow’s ability to send herself up. ‘Not My Finest Hour’ is not about taking yourself or the insincere celebrity apologies we see every day seriously and features some unplanned life events and surprises that keep the audience guessing. While there’s a lot of good material, some of the narrative threads are left hanging, which is a shame.
Some of her anecdotes, including one about a Green Party member who did not practice what they preached had the audience in fits. Being raised by a Scottish Nationalist father and an English mother also brought some great laughs. There’s a lot to like in this debut from Haddow, who is a promising new voice in the comedy scene, and definitely one to watch.
‘Not My Finest Hour’ runs until Fri 25 Aug 2023 at Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two at 18:55