post by @nataliagresty

Seen by Natalia at Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the 16th of August 2024

4 stars – powerful and honest musical comedy

Ah, the power of women…! Women falling on the ground, bouncing back up, falling more, bouncing back again and then some. Such is Riki Lindhome‘s story, her infertility journey, as she calls it with apparent irony, standing somewhere between theatrical storytelling and comedy. Despite already being famous for her music comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates and their silly (dirty even) songs, as well as for guest starring in shows such as the Big Bang Theory or Gilmore Girls, this is her debut Fringe hour and she’s as honest as it gets.

Dead Inside starts off as a candid monologue and the first punch in the face doesn’t take long. Her account of costly egg freezing, IVF, subsequent painful miscarriage and a number of breakups is only the beginning. But in between all this tragedy, there are jokes – many in fact – and Riki maintains her fast pace throughout the show, admitting there isn’t enough time to tell it all. Her songs are when she lifts the heavy mood in the room best, and she does it glamorously and effortlessly. She picks up the guitar or the piano, jumping into lyrics such as Don’t Google Mummy (she acted in nude films when she was younger), or songs about medical devices from the 19th century meant to help women with hysteria (go figure/ Google), or the reality of sexual intercourse between two elderly people (she’s only 45, mind you).

The show also contains short clips from her TV appearances, personal videos and emojis, rating her moods as her timeline goes. Every time it looks as if another catastrophe was around the corner, she turns to comedy and music – which she masters very well – and by the end we’re so invested and moved it definitely takes a while to return to form.

31st July – 25th August; 5.00 pm

Running time: 60 minutes

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath

Tickets and Info: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/riki-lindhome-dead-inside 

Group: Alchemation and Stamptown

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikilindhome