Holly Williams finds Laura Solon's The Owl of Steven a delightful flight of fancy with a sharp script to boot.
Laura Solon takes us on a trip, to Steven Island in search of an owl. Her show is a whimsical tale, in which she – our charming narrator – both guides us through and acts out, becoming a series of grotesque, bizarre or just down-right daft characters. From an American starlet turned nature documentarist to an eccentric English couple and a duo of French spies, Solon slips deftly in and out of her creations, bringing each to life with a shrill voice or an idiosyncratic turn of phrase.
Five years ago, Solon was a surprise winner of the Perrier award, and her character comedy continues to please audiences. Her rather sweet tale – the American visits the remote island, full of crackpot and ineffectually sinister locals, in order to capture on film the owl who rules their decision-making process – gives free reign to her eccentric characterisation.
But while much of the humour is in the quirky oddities and the surreal she brings to life; Solon has also got an enjoyable sharp turn of phrase and the show includes some cuttings quips to keep you on your toes. Carrying the audience with superb confidence, it's not all just a flight of fancy – there's a wiry wit here too.
Laura Solon: The Owl of Steven is at the Pleasance Courtyard until the 29th August.
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