★ ★ ★ ★
A collection of well-told stories that deliver on warmth, emotion and humour.
London-based, New York-born comedian Janine Harouni has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before as one third of sketch group Muriel, but now she's brought her first solo hour to the festival and things are going very well for her.
She's sold out her entire run including the extra date which was added to meet demand and just last night was named the winner of this year's BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award, formerly the BBC New Comedy Award. Now that I've watched her show, I can understand why Janine is the talk of the festival and one of the most exciting new acts performing at the festival.
Janine is a superb storyteller, delivering vivid stories of growing up in Staten Island, her parents including her father who voted for Trump and a harrowing car accident which almost killed her - giving further meaning to the show's title Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated).
With each character more vivid the next, Janine's background in sketch comedy and her drama school training has clearly stood her in good stead for her debut which is a collection of well-told stories that deliver on warmth, emotion and humour.
Surprisingly strong, her first hour serves as a heartfelt love letter to her family, the place she grew up and the people she holds dear - a neat way of introducing herself to audiences and a nice way to say thank you to the important people in her life.
If this is how good she is now, I'm excited to see what the future holds for Janine Harouni.
Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) runs until 25th August at 5.45pm at the Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Three). Book tickets here.