“aN ABSOLUTE RIOT. ONCE YOU ENTER THE CINEMATIC UNIVERSE OF DAISY DORIS MAY, YOU’LL NEVER WANT TO LEAVE“
5*****
Now that you mention it, I’ve never seen Steve Porters, The Divine Karen Moonstone, and Häns Off all in the same room. Could they be the same person? Daisy Doris May would have you believe not, in this electric hour of character comedy chaos.
The show kicks off with the world-famous (anyone who’s anyone knows him) Häns Off weaving through the crowd to the front of the nightclub queue. That buzz of VIP anticipation hits as we meet some of the hottest names on the scene — including a few of the world’s most coveted fashion designers, who just happen to be in the audience tonight.
There’s German raver Häns Off, new-age hippy Karen Moonstone, and the king of the lads Steve Porters (Lock up your daughters). Each are fully formed, totally independent souls who you could believe have all had different days leading up to the show. One of many impressive elements of the evening is May’s ability to weave in a genuinely hilarious, coherent (and moving???) storyline that involves all three larger-than-life characters and a fair portion of the unprepared audience.
The show had a lively drag brunch vibe, where even those not pulled into the story felt like part of the party. Some of the funniest moments were off-the-cuff as the action toured the room: a near-miss with a toppling bar, two accidental daddies, and May herself being hoisted off her feet by the stag party. A true improv master, no audience interaction was wasted. Transitions between characters is seamless and aided by multimedia elements that push the story on whilst, we assume, Steve Porters is busy growing his signature goatee.
May conducts the audience like a maestro— she has absolutely no trouble selecting volunteers and relishes moments when she gets to prowl through the crowd, weaving through the cabaret tables. Participation is integral to the show, and every audience member dragged up on stage soon finds their enthusiastic stride as a key part of the narrative.
The room is electric, and May has absolutely nailed her goal of taking the audience on an unforgettable night out. I left wanting to return with a bigger crew—and plenty more drinks—to fully plunge into the Daisy Doris May cinematic universe, bursting with nonstop gags and hilarious twists.
Big Night Out is a feast of pure fun, facilitated by the fantastic Daisy Doris May and her troupe of outrageous alter egos, and I am genuinely looking forward to a second helping.
Daisy Doris May: Big Night Out
Assembly Underground
21:50 | 1st-24th (Not 12th)
Daisy Doris May: Big Night Out *****
Published on
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 
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