Catherine Bohart starts her act by apologising (not really) for her Irish accent and the speed at which she talks, which apparently is an Irish thing.
But it is true, the word rate is impressive, and probably there’s enough material here for a three-hour show, done in 90 minutes including an interval. Phew!
There’s a huge amount here, exploring in searing detail her mental health, OCD, bisexuality, difficulties in relationships and the break-ups of them, down to fine details of lesbian sex, graphic descriptions of booking pubic hairdressing appointments, why her dentist is her most trusted confidant, and much more, in a seamless display of self-revelatory jokiness covering every aspect of relationships.
There’s particular emphasis on the process of being dumped, or being the dumper and the awful ‘advice’ given by acquaintances – an upside being at least you no longer have to put up with your ex’s tedious friends.
As it’s a self-revelatory show, she’s also able to inveigle several audience members into revealing personal details themselves, one actually naming the ex’s friend she most disliked.
The pandemic, depression, the effect of solitary lockdown on her mental health, all of this is covered without self-pity in a sort of manic conversational style – and is endlessly funny, she consciously owning the use of comedy and laughter as healing.
Altogether this is a triumphant high-energy roller-coaster ride into ways of turning pain into laughter, which its audience wildly appreciates. ‘Tour de force’ is putting it mildly.
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Reviewer: John Christopher Wood | Star rating: ****
