Katherine Ryan: Little Miss Conception

Growing up in small town America can be a problem, especially when your mother enters you into beauty pagents when you're not a typical smalltown girl, content to marry your first boyfriend and live in the local area forever.

This is the message Katherine Ryan tries to get across in her semi-musical comedy standup routine. For the most part she succeeds, giving the audience frequent opportuinities for mirth as she cracks wise, makes jokes and breaks into the occasional song. For a first time Fringe performer, she does well, however her comedy act is overshadowed by her more spontaneous riffing with the crowd and her exemplary vocal skills when singing. A good start from someone who hopefully will become a regular feature at the Fringe.