I’m always fascinated with seeing how a brand new Fringe act will handle themselves on stage in front of an audience full of strangers. It comes with a mixture of excitement and trepidation because what might receive a favourable response from friends and family may not resonate well with an audience who does not know the performer.  Thankfully with Moisty Magic and their show How To Make A Bimbo, there were no such problems. A sold-out crowd watched an entertaining show which, by the end, really tugged at our heartstrings and showed a side to Moisty that most folks wouldn’t expect. All this coming from a self-confessed Barbie doll-looking, non-binary sex worker by night, academic by day who “sings like a crack addict”?!?

I’ll admit, the first 15 minutes of this performance caught me off-guard. Thinking I was here to see a deep, meaningful ‘politically charged story about unpacking internalised misogyny and coming to terms with identity’, we were instead given a light-hearted look at Moisty in their early years. Life at home, fitting in when feeling like an outsider, and as an emo-loving strip club dancer in their teen years, this was Moisty before they were Moisty. With surprise guest appearances from real-life influences, Moisty’s show started to gather steam as the real them started to come out. Talking to the audience from the heart, expressing their emotions at the realisation of being non-binary, and the fear of not being accepted by their parents was when the show really touched me. Going through a life of being unsure of who you are and where you fit in is tough for anybody. And, as Moisty quite rightly pointed out, statistics show that it is much tougher for queer and trans folk. The way they handle this conversation is very touching and goes to show what a great performer they are. From comedic elements to anger, to frustration to exhaustion, Moisty covers all the bases of what it’s like to grow up as they did. And, with their parents in the audience on the night I was there, I’m sure it was even harder for them to express their feelings. This is yet another Fringe act in its purest form. Raw, real and very eye-opening, How to Make a Bimbo is a story that is definitely worth a listen!

FOUR STARS ****