On paper, Ava Vidal has the makings of a superb comedian.
Her colourful back-story includes teenage motherhood, work as a prison officer and a spell on the other side of the law when she was caught in possession of cocaine.
Onstage, however, the sum of these parts results in a mildly engaging show rather than an arresting one.
In her current set, Vidal compares her life to Barack Obama’s year in office. This black man has made bold strides, can this dysfunctional black woman match him?
The answer is no, but there are giggles as she recalls South African gigs where they are unimpressed by news of Obama ("A black president? That’s so 94") and fires winning broadsides at her sulky daughter.
Yet despite being updated since its Edinburgh premiere to include a neat Tiger Woods wind-up, this would benefit from further rewriting.
Two smart jail-era jokes, for instance, about an unlikely chivalrous act and Jehovah’s Witnesses, leave one wanting more new material on her past.
Vidal clearly has some potential — but maybe as with a certain Washington resident we are expecting too much too soon.
Until tomorrow. Information: 020 7478 0100, www.sohotheatre.com
Ava Vidal
Soho Theatre
Dean Street, W1D 3NE
