Fiona Allen, of ‘Smack The Pony’ fame, needs a decent white lie to get out of a party being held by some insufferable neighbours. And – in ‘White Lies’ – we learn why those neighbours are so insufferable and, ultimately, what dishonest excuse she decides to employ in her bid to avoid the unwanted socialising. Across the hour, Allen – a consummate storyteller – does a great job of constructing the little bit of southern English suburbia in which these events unfold, as we meet different family members and local residents. It feels almost like a one-person sitcom as the characters interact, accompanied by Allen’s inner monologue. While not laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end, Allen nevertheless engages her audience throughout, and there are plenty of incidents and sarcastic asides that do get the audience laughing. 

Gilded Balloon Teviot, until 29 Aug. 
tw rating 3/5 | [Chris Cooke]