I first saw Josie Long when, aged 17, she comfortably won the BBC New Comedy Award in 1999. This precocious talent then disappeared to Oxford University and having returned is rapidly making up for lost time. She was voted if.comeddies Best Newcomer in Edinburgh this summer and should scoop many more prizes.
Kindness and Exuberance, now getting an extended run in London, is the most upbeat, quirky show you'll ever encounter. In her Oxfam clothes and DIY haircut, Long might look shambolic but this is a smart, endearing hour celebrating life's bright side.
If Lord Lloyd-Webber ever needs another Maria, maybe Long could apply. Her monologue is essentially a list of her favourite things, from bus drivers making small talk to abandoned baths in the street. Everything is illustrated by primitive cartoons that ooze pigeon-toed indie-girl charm.
Samurai insults in haikus, references to Aldous Huxley and thoughts about The Cure's Robert Smith buying soup are just a few highlights. Endless oddball asides might not be to all tastes, but everyone should warm to her infectious cheerfulness. In a spin-doctored world Long is a precious sliver of honest joy.
Josie Long: Kindness And Exuberance
Soho Theatre
Dean Street, W1D 3NE
