“a brilliant hour of comedy by an incredibly accomplished performer”
*****
Alex Franklin bursts onto the stage with fast-paced punchlines, musical interludes, social commentary and stories from the front line of dating whilst trans (and Chinese). ‘Kiss Me’ balances light-hearted laughs with a very real journey to find love in a world where everybody seems to have an opinion.
Structured around the early stages of a budding relationship, ‘Kiss Me x’ flits between the absurd and the vulnerable as she peels apart the layers of difficulty and joy that come with existing in the centre of an online culture war. She didn’t opt into this, she just wants to kiss. Why is that so hard to understand?
Franklin seems to hone in on several transphobic tropes without hesitation, attending to them with song or perhaps a perfectly crafted string of gags, before brushing them away with one flick of blonde hair. What is a woman? Well, a woman is a ray of sunshine. Next! She holds this perfect balance of messaging and ridicule throughout the show, which is no mean feat.
Jokes are punctuated with brilliantly crafted visual gags, sound effects and music. Talent oozes from Franklin, she is absolutely at home on stage. Some audience interactions, such as the one rewarded with an entire polycule on the front row, seem built in. Others, such as an unwanted punchline-ruiner, are taken on with grace and humour. Momentary distractions, such as a very pregnant audience member needing to stand, are folded into the performance with such ease that you feel as comfortable as if Alex is merely holding court at a house party.
With such a high punchline rate, it’s a wonder how Alex also manages to pack in quite so much vulnerability and depth into this hour in her company. The show hurtles towards a surprising yet completely logical conclusion that I won’t spoil here. You’ll need to experience the crescendo, and its very real-world stakes, yourself. Kiss Me x is a brilliant hour of comedy by an incredibly accomplished performer. Go see it if you can.
Alex Franklin: Kiss me x
Jelly Belly at Underbelly
7-30 Aug | 14:25 (1hr)
Alex Franklin: Kiss me x *****
Published on
Edinburgh Fringe 2026 
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