This Review is from August 2024
Right at the top of the show, the comedian introduces herself as a worldwide top 0.1% fan of The Cheeky Girls. Best known (only known?) for their catchy 2002 debut single, Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), the Romanian identical twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia are apparently still going as a duo. Anyway, Chelsea Birkby is a huge fan, “But why? Good question. Good question. It’s just my way of dealing with despair. Welcome to the show.”
This Is Life, Cheeky Cheeky explores the comedian’s diagnosis and subsequent journey with bipolar disorder. “I don’t think I have it anymore, but then my doctor told me that was a classic sign.”
Balancing the intelligent with the frivolous, much of this hour is a collection of funny, and yes, cheeky routines based on the comedian’s life. It’s also a story of someone trying her best to be optimistic, only to be let down. She tells of her experience on TikTok, where a stand up clip received over 600,000 views. Brilliant. Only to be brought back down to earth with some truly horrible comments posted on the site, some of which she shares. She discusses philosophical perspectives on objectification, referencing Immanuel Kant, Albert Camus and the Kardashians.
Somehow the show feels slightly less than the sum of its parts. I occasionally got a little lost among the cultural references – and confused, trying to discern the truth and the irony. But at its best, the show is lively, cheeky, intelligent and funny.
Martin Walker
Publication of this review was delayed due to the writer getting Covid.
Interview with Chelsea Birkby.
Image by Esme Buxton.
Chelsea’s Profile HERE
Reviews of Chelsea Birkby: This is Life, Cheeky Cheeky collated by the British Comedy Guide HERE
