Wednesday 11 September 2024

Hannah Gadsby : Woof!, McEwan Hall, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 She’s become so admired for clever and cleverly structured shows that pack a moral punch.  So this one came as a bit of a disappointment.  Not that there weren’t plenty laughs, and a few serious points made, but it felt like a slightly flippant addition to the Hannah G canon, when judged against what’s gone before.

No harm in that of course, but don’t expected the heavy hits of days past.  No doubt they will return one day, she’s too good not to.

So this addressed big questions like where did all the cabbage patch dolls go to?  And something about Taylor Swift that went over my head (wee tip to Gadsby - reactions to Swift aren’t just binary, because as well as like or hate there’s the ‘totally ignore’ alternative…).

There was some interesting musing on the nature of fame and success, and if her move up the socioeconomic scale, after so many years of just getting by, had changed her for the worse.  Leading into her highlighting some of the worst aspects of capitalism, and big capitalists.  Even the odd dig at supposed equality of rights.

But overall it was just a few decent laughs, a few interesting stories, and a demonstration that, even in this mode, Gadsby has totally mastered her craft.

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