Pernilla Holland @ Underbelly, Med Quad
A by-the-numbers one-person show that misses the mark
Pernilla Holland bursts from nowhere singing a Norwegian version of Vanilla Ice’s second greatest hit (after Ninja Rap, obvs) that lends the show its puntastic title. It is a bold and brash start. But one that descends into a standard show of funny accents, kerrrrrrazy relatives and stories that lead nowhere.
Holland is a genial host and she’s lead an interesting life; born in Houston, Texas, to Norwegian parents and then moved around the world due to her father’s job in the oil business. We meet her forgetful father, her overbearing mother, her ‘perfect’ sister and wise, crotchety granddad as she tries out Norwegian accents; accents she no longer has thanks to her nomadic childhood.
The story culminates with the Anders Breivik terrorist attacks in Oslo back in 2011. But her message about being too quick to blame Muslims, for something that was a native Norwegian’s responsibility, is garbled and lost. After so much non-story and weak anecdotes about a pretty normal upbringing that simply took in more locations than most, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have a show about the fall-out from those terrible events, which would have been much more interesting.
Panilla Ice Ice Baby (Pernilla Holland), Underbelly Med Quad (Daisy), until 28 Aug (not 15), 1.40pm, £8-10