Edinburgh Fringe Reviews: The Fear

There’s an acronym for 'fear of missing out' now. There’s an acronym for everything. Under the radar, they’ve outgrown the confines of merely signposting military or governmental operations, and moved into whimsical territory (to the point where folks are now saying 'lol' instead of actually laughing). Now we’ve got complicated, emotional, human feelings about neglect packed tightly into couple of syllables.

We know this because of Hayley Ellis’ show FOMO [★★], which briefly flirts with greatness, but can’t maintain those standards. We listen intently when Ellis tackles technology: she considers the way that social media constantly reinforces the idea that we’re not good enough and should aspire for more, whether that’s new material possessions or the perfect relationship, or the success and validation our friends and peers enjoy that – if we could even briefly taste it – would immediately rid us of our perpetual malaise.

This show probably could have been a word-of-mouth success where Ellis’ comedy challenges us all to live our lives – to YOLO, if you will. Do we need to update our Facebook or check our Timehop? Right now, during this show? Should we pay £30 to go to a concert and stand playing Farmville, pissing our cash away? In an age of instant gratification, or the perception of it, do we truly value anything? What the fuck is wrong with us?

Despite all this potential, FOMO totally peters out towards the end. There’s some funny, perceptive stuff here, but it’s spurned in favour of jokes about foul-mouthed kids and emotionally vacant boyfriends, not on the same level as her other ideas. If Ellis’ show has a conclusion then it’s a fairly unsatisfactory one. Her probing is thought-provoking but sadly fleeting, and the outcome underwhelming.

Naomi Petersen

Also missing out is Naomi Petersen. The premise of I Am Telling You I'm Not Going [★★] is that the the comedian’s agoraphobia has forced her to live inside a theatre for an entire year, and thus miss out on the deaths of Prince and David Bowie, and a spot of political upheaval too.

Petersen brings musical numbers – think Mary Poppins with a propensity to break into a sweary rage – costume changes and some DIY projector work to the show. Those dynamics make for an energetic hour, but it’s hit and miss as she mines her misery for cathartic laughs.

Describing the comedy of errors that led to her exile, Petersen pulls off a great physical routine – a sexy dance gone wrong – that has everyone in stitches, and when she laughs off a prop malfunction a veritable warmth permeates the room.

On the flipside, an improvised love song feels stiff, which is a shame as it comes off the back of some charming audience interaction, and in a show that she dubs 'group therapy', there are a lot of uncomfortable moments, even allowing for the fact that adolescence truly is awkward as hell. Petersen is a talented performer, but this isn’t the show that’ll break her.

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Naomi Petersen: I am Telling You I'm Not Going, Pleasance Courtyard (Cellar), 3-29 Aug (not 16), 3.30pm, £6-9.50
Hayley Ellis: FOMO, Just the Tonic at The Community Project: The Little Kirk Room, 4-28 Aug (not 15), 9.35pm, £5/PWYW