Kate Dolan used to want to be a dancer, but now she’d rather be a fish. Her new show, Trout, is driven by the desire to be free of the scrutiny, self-loathing and constant buzz of being alive.
It’s not that she’s adrift. More that, as she says in the show, she’s “sort of doing something at all times.” That’s certainly true of the hour, throughout which are packed rubber-faced contortions, songs and dances – a glimpse into the other life she could have lived.
It’s ironic that she wishes evolution had never happened, seeing as her own evolution as a performer is evident. In a new venue and with renewed dismay at the state of the UK, to which she has temporarily returned from sunny Australia, she’s clearly feeling bolstered to speak more honestly about her inner workings (even if the vulnerability is tempered with a giant, custom-made trout’s head).
There’s a welcome gear shift around – to use a classic Fringe phrase – ‘the 45 minute mark’, which comes just in time to balance a show that otherwise risks staying on the same frenetic beat all the way through.
It’s a madcap hour which impressively balances chaotic vibes with a strong emotional throughline. And by giving the deeper moments just enough room to breathe, Dolan manages to keep things fresh.
Kate Dolan: Trout, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 30 Aug, 8.35pm