Alexandra Haddow’s second stand-up hour Third Party is an exploration of two worlds – political and personal – that at times seem to be in competition. It’s a show that starts with a bang, with a silly fake party political radio broadcast, which seems to signal this will be an hour of political takedown and hits.
Disappointingly, this is not quite the case. The political comedy is little more than the names of politicians, and any comments she does make on them are neither new nor exciting. Haddow says she had to rewrite the show post general election, maybe meaning that jokes aren’t fleshed out as much as they could be. But political comedy based on the last decade of Tory government would still have been relatable, and would likely have been better.
Haddow is a very likeable comedian, and both her personality and her comedy skills really stand up when she moves onto the personal section of the show. Her discussions of her personal life, of sex, of drugs, of her relationship and her housemates are candid and unfiltered and feel very authentic. It’s clear that Haddow has a natural ability in storytelling and linking things together, and it’s a section that feels like it flows together really well.
Overall, Third Party is a good watch for anyone who appreciates comedy that is not only funny but also thought-provoking and reflective of the world we live in. It’s a shame that the political comedy isn’t as strong as the personal anecdotes but it’s clear that Haddow is a talented stand up with a good brain for comedy and it’ll be interesting to see what she does next.
Alexandra Haddow: Third Party is at Monkey Barrel until the 25th August (not 13) at 22:00.
Image provided via Monkey Barrell Comedy Press release