As Ania Magliano returns to this year’s Fringe, she reminds us of her comedic talents by beginning with an inspired routine about following the private Instagram account of her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend. This only marks the first of an array of many other excellent broadly-funny gags which include, among others, Henry VIII’s many wives and handling the world’s most powerful vibrator.

A running thread throughout about contraception difficulties, along with sections about androgyny and non-binary gender, manage to provide amusing insights that don’t feel awkwardly inclusive or pointlessly edgy.

Magliano’s overall handling of jokes is broader but no less funnier than her previous Fringe show. In particular her confident nature propels her towards numerous tangents, such as what a single tooth in the mouth would look like, and enables her to engage with the audience in the process with minimal awkwardness.

However, as with last year, it is in the handling of the more serious aspects of the show where Magliano really shines, as her contraceptive issues become connected with her difficulties adjusting to moving in with her boyfriend. She slowly reveals this issue as the show progresses without letting its more sober nature overshadow or detract from its more overly comedic aspects.

The resolution of this narrative thread not only allows her to link it seamlessly with early material about her parents relationship, but also skilfully call back to the opening Instagram joke. This ability to combine seemingly disparate narrative elements is what makes Magliano one of the most skilled twentysomething ‘storytelling’ comedians.

Lesser comedians would have resorted to jarring tonal shifts which would have lost the audience instantly, yet Magliano keeps it all together. She manages to provide biographical insight into her past and familial relations without these distracting from her overall comedic approach.

Whilst ‘Forgive Me, Father’ isn’t as dramatic as her previous show, Magliano continues to show through her wit and storytelling prowess why she is one of the most prominent up-and-coming young comedic talents at the Fringe.

‘Forgive Me, Father‘ is Pleasance Courtyard – Above until Sun 25 Aug 2024 at 18:40