Sue Perkins' return to live comedy, "The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins", has left audiences wondering whether the former Bake Off star's promises of self-abasement were a clever ruse or genuinely reflective of her public persona. The show is less than it could be, however, as Perkins crafts an assortment of anecdotes that only superficially touch on her notion of shame.
The latter half of the performance proves more compelling, however, as Perkins' witty storytelling gradually sheds its polished veneer to expose glimpses of a more vulnerable individual beneath. In one poignant segment, she bravely recounts the traumatic aftermath of a benign tumour's impact on her life, transporting viewers into the confines of a 'posh One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. This rarefied vulnerability far outstrips the showbiz anecdotes that dominate its earlier stages.
Despite Perkins' undeniable comedic prowess in recounting laugh-out-loud tales, such as an exasperating episode involving South American shaman and her descent into drug-induced delirium, these stories ring hollow when viewed through the prism of 'shame'. Her witty asides about her own ineptitude are undeniably entertaining but fail to deliver any genuine insight.
While Perkins' show is by no means lacking in charm, it's hard not to feel that some of its potential has been squandered by an overly focused emphasis on surface-level anecdotes. The show's standout moment comes when Perkins strips away her public persona's façade to reveal a more profound vulnerability – and this alone is enough to leave viewers invested in the performance.
The latter half of the performance proves more compelling, however, as Perkins' witty storytelling gradually sheds its polished veneer to expose glimpses of a more vulnerable individual beneath. In one poignant segment, she bravely recounts the traumatic aftermath of a benign tumour's impact on her life, transporting viewers into the confines of a 'posh One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. This rarefied vulnerability far outstrips the showbiz anecdotes that dominate its earlier stages.
Despite Perkins' undeniable comedic prowess in recounting laugh-out-loud tales, such as an exasperating episode involving South American shaman and her descent into drug-induced delirium, these stories ring hollow when viewed through the prism of 'shame'. Her witty asides about her own ineptitude are undeniably entertaining but fail to deliver any genuine insight.
While Perkins' show is by no means lacking in charm, it's hard not to feel that some of its potential has been squandered by an overly focused emphasis on surface-level anecdotes. The show's standout moment comes when Perkins strips away her public persona's façade to reveal a more profound vulnerability – and this alone is enough to leave viewers invested in the performance.
I mean, I went to see Sue Perkins' new show and it was meh. I love her sense of humor but some of those stories about her shaman experiences or whatever felt like just a bunch of old jokes recycled from her last few gigs 
. The part that really got me though was when she talked about the tumour thing... that was deep 
. But honestly, the whole show could've been condensed into 30 minutes and it would've still been pretty entertaining 
. What's bugging me is that I feel like we're just getting a glimpse of her true self in these moments but only when she's not trying to be funny or whatever 
. Can't help but wonder what the real Sue Perkins is really all about 
just saw Sue Perkins' new comedy show and i gotta say, it's got some good vibes but its like she's hiding behind all these funny stories about her ex shaman mate lololol what about the real stuff? that part where she talks about her tumour? now thats relatable 
it was like she was finally being real with us... i mean, we've seen some funny stuff about her in the past but this show was different. i was really touched by that part where she talks about the tumour thing... it felt so raw and honest 
. yeah, the parts about her shenanigans as a shaman were pretty laugh-out-loud funny but at the end of the day, those jokes didn't really add up to anything. i think sue perkins is trying to show us that there's more to her than just being a comedian... and that vulnerability is super attractive 
but then there's these moments where it feels like she's really opening up about some deeper stuff like when she talks about her benign tumour and how it changed her life 
I think Sue Perkins' return to live comedy is like trying to get a good night's sleep after a long, stressful day - you know it's gonna be good, but sometimes the execution can fall just short. 
The thing is, we all want more from her, right? We wanna see that 'Eternal Shame' thing in full swing, but sometimes it feels like she's just scratching the surface.