Sandy Hole: Lost Property Box

As Helen Heels

More Caroline Mabey videos

Started comedy in November 2005, Mabey is a stand-up and character comedian who sometimes performs as Helen Heels, landlady to the stars.

Caroline Mabey's Go Go Go Coffee Show - Fringe 2009
Live Review

This is neither the time or the place for stand-up: 1.30pm in the well-lit ‘meeting room’ above a pub.

But Caroline Mabey has incorporated the situation into her charmingly bonkers debut show; theming it around the idea of waking up – and the coffee she needs to get going. As an audience, we all get a free thimbleful; as the comedian surfacing before Deal Or No Deal, she needs substantially more.

She appears bewildered by the early hour, bumbling with her distracted stare through everything she wants to get through, such as dividing the audience into early birds or night owls; describing her relationship with Kip, the animated coffee pot, or discussing her caffeine dependency. She’s still in a half-awake state, and has to keep restarting the show as she forgets where she was, and her alarm clock keeps telling her it’s just turned 1.30pm. No surprise, give that it’s made of cardboard.

Mabey is slyly playful with the affectionate awkwardness she creates through this slightly scruffy hotch-potch of surreal stand-up, unthreatening audience participation, quirky music and sweet animation. The whole hour is enjoyably amateur in feel, but powered by some strong writing that suggests Mabey isn’t half as dippy as she makes out.

There are some fabulous off-the-wall lines here – as well as some truly appalling puns, normally owl-based – and she orchestrates a succession of strange scenes after allocating every audience member some job vital to the show’s good progress: dog-wrangler, harbourmaster, nurse.

Every weird scenario is played out in good spirit from the delightfully eccentric Mabey and punters alike; and the good cheer spreads around the room. It might not seem it at the time, but daft moments from this show will endure in the memory long after you’ve forgotten every word from the big-name stand-ups.

This is quirky lo-fi comedy with balls; where reliable jokes underpin the unbalanced, scatterbrain whimsy. Yes, it’s flawed, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a show that mixes the unhinged and the fun in quite the same way, sending you out into the day with a satisfied smile on your face.

Saw Caroline last night at Grantham,a well put together set. I enjoyed the act lots. Highly recommended.

Garry Edwards, October 2010

She's very comfortable with her stage persona which endears the audience to a charmingly mental sex pest. Her material is well written and well presented with some cracking slow burners thrown in. She worked easily with the audience, keeping control, whilst still remaining a little vulnerable and slightly sexually sinister. She didn't rely on aggression to make a joke, but somehow managed to pull us all into her little world..... reminded me of Caroline Aherne (would make a great comedy actress).

Me, October 2010

Caroline did a cracking job of compereing a very unusual gig at a wedding reception last night. Managed to get the gobby ones in the audience calmed down before I went on. Fantastic.

W. Shakespeare, October 2010

Caroline compered the first night of The Comedy Cow and warmed the audience up fantastically well. She was very well received and got the praise she deserved from the audience. An excellent compere that we hope to have back in the future!

The Comedy Cow, April 2010

The only laughs that Caroline received during her performance at the Comedy Cavern in Bath were the nervous ones of a student she continually picked on. There wasn't much to laugh at as none of the jokes packed any real punch, no matter how crude and desperate they became. I'm sorry to say this as I had looked forward to her performance from reading the blurb on the flyer

Student Rob, March 2010

Caroline has a fantastic, childish, innocent persona. She's also got some really good jokes as well, which compliment her charming delivery. One for the future definitely.

Steve McBride, October 2009