BOTI Reviews: I Want to Speak to Your Manager (How I Was Radicalised and Became… Karen)
What starts as a comedy about customer complaints and one-star reviews quickly becomes something much sharper in Holly Hughes’ debut solo show I Want To Speak To Your Manager (How I Was Radicalised and Became…Karen), which landed at The Actors last Friday following a successful run at Dublin Fringe.
Blending sharp humour, slam poetry roots and full Karen energy, Hughes kept the audience engaged from start to finish. One moment she’s sharing relatable customer service nightmares, the next she’s talking about honest truths surrounding women, boundaries, and the idea of being “difficult”.
The show kicks off with Holly explaining how she used to be the ultimate people pleaser. You know the type: says yes to everything, goes with the flow, never wants to upset anyone. Until one day, she realises she actually has a choice: she can say no and ask for what she wants. Or, as society might call it… she can become a Karen.
And that’s where the show really shines. Holly takes the stereotype of the dreaded Karen and turns it into something much smarter and funnier than expected. Yes, there are stories about one-star Google reviews, demanding drink orders, and aggressively worded emails, but Holly treats complaining almost like an art form. Underneath the comedy is a bigger point about women being judged the second they stop making themselves smaller for everyone else.
Some of the funniest moments come from Holly’s trip to Australia. As an Irish woman trying to order a proper pint of Guinness from a Gen Z server in a faraway pub, what could possibly go wrong? Everything, of course.
She also shares stories about taking the Australian public transport company to court and somehow managing to secure a 60 percent refund for hiring a van in New Zealand after a relentless email campaign. Honestly, the commitment is impressive.
The Karen aesthetic is fully embraced, too. Outfit, attitude, outrage – all present and correct. Holly even gives us a step-by-step guide on how to embrace our own Karen-ness and make ourselves heard using ALL CAPS.
Then the show takes a more serious turn. Holly asks why there’s no male equivalent to a Karen. A demanding man is often seen as confident, powerful, even admirable – even sexy. Meanwhile, women who speak up get labelled annoying or difficult. It’s here that the performance moves beyond comedy and into something much more thoughtful, touching on women’s rights and the long history of women fighting to be heard. Holly starts to frame becoming a Karen as a movement – women refusing to stay quiet, speak softly, or apologise for taking up space.
What starts as a comedy about difficult customers gradually becomes something far sharper and more thoughtful than you expect. By the end, Holly has turned the idea of the ‘Karen’ completely on its head, and we left hoping this won’t be the last time she brings the show to Brighton.By Pauline Sablayrolles
