Zoe Brownstone opens her show by promising the audience a happy ending and, all sexual connotations aside, that is what they receive. However, the journey there comes after an hour of Brownstone’s recounting of the romance that followed her real life ‘meet cute’ at her sister’s wedding. This encounter provides ample opportunities for her to engage in a range of topics, including a hilarious description of Jewish sex positions and Brownstone taking pot shots at the Dutch, and step-parenthood that are very funny on their own.

However, it’s the dramatic later section of the show dealing with the breakdown of Brownstone’s relationship where she unexpectedly shines as a performer. Anyone who saw her as part of the Tied For Second double bill at last year’s Fringe knows that Brownstone can skilfully handle straight-up comedy.

However, it’s in the highlighting of the seriousness of her situation as she faced deportation from the Netherlands and the emotional impact that the breakup had on her that she really impresses. In particular, Brownstone skilfully transitions from comedic to dramatic tones during this section, without completely altering the overall direction of the show. Even a potentially awkward segment acknowledging the difficulty of expressing one’s Jewish identity during the Gaza conflict does not bring the show to a grinding halt, with Brownstone even managing to find humour in such a dark situation.

Brownstone herself is extremely engaging with a winning personal style, a mixture of Jennifer Aniston and early Amy Schumer that immediately wins the audience over regardless of any changes in tone. ‘A Bite of Yours’ is a solo debut that really allows Brownstone to show off her skills both as a comedian and as a performer that is worth seeing even if you’re not a fan of rom-coms.

‘A Bite of Yours‘ is at Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Three until Fri 23 Aug 2024 (except Tue 13) at 19:15