“You’ll leave having had a good time or crying tonight,” Prashanti Singh introduces her show, in this Ted-talk-meets-therapy-session night of comedy, where she lays bare her personal struggles of being a thirty-something unmarried woman. Interweaving cultural references, she traces how her upbringing in India has led her to where she is today. Singh’s infectious sarcastic charm emerges as a defining trademark for her comedic style.
Singh is at her best with her self-deprecating humour, being honest with herself about how “pathetic” she is for seeking male attention, pretending to be younger, or how basic her problems are, as described by her therapist. Her reflections on gender politics in India are delivered tastefully through her energetic and self-mocking demeanour; she states, “I don’t speak for all women, but I speak for many.” She has come to identify herself as a ‘crazy’ unmarried woman, as her mother taught her to believe. She also excels at including everyone in the joke, ensuring that cultural references are accessible even to those who may not immediately understand them.
At times Singh can get lost within her delivery, as she drags out the tease before arriving at the punchline. With a lot of topics woven into the set, the material occasionally feels dense and crowded. For instance, her closing reflections on her love for personality-altering podcasts, though sincere, lacked memorable impact.
Singh’s introduction to her show proves to be a perfect way to describe the night as a whole; by the end, audiences are likely to leave having both laughed and cried. She touches upon raw and difficult topics – such as accepting the fear of dying alone and realizing that our problems are not as overwhelming as we imagine – all in a fun, accessible and enjoyable way. The result is a night of comedy that is as thought‑provoking as it is entertaining.
Featured Image: Credit – Ray Roberts
Tickets: https://sohotheatre.com/events/prashasti-singh-divine-feminine-3/
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