Normal has never been so wonderfully entertaining. This is a unique, bizarre, delightful show starring the sublime comedic and clowning talents of Mel McGlensey. What a privilege to experience Mel in action!

The basic premise is that Mel has to be normal for a whole hour in order to be ‘set free’. Her normality is put to the test in a series of tasks. Each task is chosen by the decibel level of the audience's reaction to a set of options. The format allows Mel to present some hilarious set pieces but, on any given night, you never know which ones will come up. I would have loved to have seen her take on all the options, but I guess I’ll just have to go another night for that!

Mel comes across as a thoroughly likeable individual with a big, engaging personality. For NORMAL, audience participation is pretty much mandatory, but Mel has an amazing ability to put audience members at ease so that even the most shrinking of violets are clamouring to be picked as the show progresses. I loved the way Mel handled Question Time where she invited the audience to ask her ‘anything’. Mel certainly got some curly ones on the night but, lest there be any doubt, her responses impressively demonstrated her razor-sharp wit and comedic chops.

NORMAL is a one-woman show, but Mel is aided in the presentation by her partner/ collaborator/co-creator Doug Wilson on the tech desk and direction by Sharnema Nougar. 

It’s ironic, but I came out of the show convinced that there couldn’t be any normal activity, as presented by Mel, that wouldn’t be entertaining.

World-class clowning. The very best of Fringe fare. Don’t miss it.