One of the places where one-person shows truly thrive is the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s an opportunity for performers to show off how good they are, even with the simplest of staging. Worse Than You is the story of one woman stressing out about putting on a one-woman show. Though this could easily be self-indulgent trash, it is instead a solid hour of hilarious, introspective, and clever comedy with very dark undertones.
Mo Fry Pasic plays Jolie Klein, a person who considers themselves to be simply the worst. Quick to self-diagnose themselves as a terrible human being, Klein is that sort of person that you feel for, but perhaps at a distance. This is a character that is so filled with emotional baggage that you assume they’re a travel luggage vendor. Miserable and full of self-loathing, the central comedic conceit is that Jolie can’t even enjoy the simple charms of a half-naked Chris Evans in the Captain America movie without convincing themselves that they are a bad person.
Pasic is very funny; a killer combination of comedic timing and ridiculous sight gags makes for a laugh-out-loud and heart-breaking show. A powerful stage presence combines with a steady hand to make for a fantastic performance. It’s impossible not to feel for the character of Jolie, someone who is genuinely trying to be the best they can be. Even though their greatest enemy is the person, they see every day in the mirror.
This is a tightly produced show that makes you believe that it’s wild and chaotic. The pacing is steady, and the humour strong, even as we move into darker subject matters and begin to understand Jolie’s personal journey more. There is very mild audience participation and adult themes from the start.
Pasic is a phenomenal talent. Powerful, funny and with an utterly devastating last line, Worse Than You is a cleverly directed, intimate and memorable show.
You can book Edinburgh Fringe Tickets here find out about future shows here, and find out about future Disco Nap productions here.
