Amy Housewine - Back to Crack

With one of the roughest lead ups to reaching the stage at Fringe World, Amy Housewine - Back to Crack suffered a succession of cancelled venues and date changes before finding a home Downstairs at the Maj, where performer Lisa Adam played to sell-out crowds. To add additional stress, Friday evening’s show was delayed by a fire evacuation. Fortunately Amy took it in her stride,  “Who knew that a bong would set off the alarms?'

Written by Lisa Adam and Trevor Ashley, and conceived by Tony Millet, Amy Housewine - Back to Crack, is a beautifully performed combination of songs (including ‘If I Only Had Cocaine, “Valium and I Love to Have a Beer With Amy). It also includes excellent comedy and a moving examination of how it all went wrong. More drug use than any other show at the Fringe World, and if there had been a swear jar, it could have funded the whole festival.

A gorgeously structured ‘disaster' of a show, it had the audience in stitches. Lisa Adam is an amazing performer with a beautiful voice, supported by a strong 3 piece band. She is also a stellar comedian with amazing timing, who creates a beautifully messed up heroine with a fascinating vulnerability.

I’m so glad that this show beat the odds and made it to the stage. Clever and entertaining, it had its audience enthralled.

Kimberley Shaw