Scotland

Catherine Cohen: Come For Me – Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

As a Cohen virgin I really didn’t know what to expect. What I got was a sweet hour of blissful humour and catchy, clever songs, backed by live music at the hands of a mysteriously talented woman.

Or should I call her, a destruction machine, an angst-filled cluster-bomb, dressed as a sweet singing Disney princess who’s slain us all from song one. Hitting here and here and here, with looks and flicks and strings of words that seem to land with tiny implosions. Littering!

She points towards me. But it’s not me it’s the guy next to me. Thank God! Not that she’s a roaster, she’s far too nice for that. But still, you do not want her sharp wit, her hot intellect upon you like the Eye of Sauron. Or maybe you do!?

Anyway, no, she’s pointing at the professional photographer to my left. ‘Oooo a photographer’, she coos, advancing. Cue the pout, pose, snarl and squeeze for the camera. ‘Get my good side’, she turns on her heal and bends provocatively, with definitely a splash of Marilyn.

She complains that she is 32, which, she moans, is about as old as you can be in my industry. Even my therapist is younger than me!

Quirky, random words flow out of her. ‘Haunted!’ she points to a mysteriously empty front row on stage left.

‘It’s fine, it’s fine’, she moves the mic stand a fraction stage right, still looking at the empty space out of the corner of her eye.

It doesn’t sound funny, but it is funny. Very funny.

She calls out people in the front row to uncross their arms. Blocking!

Fraser, her pianist accompanist is cracking up behind her, barely holding it together.

This is a show containing some quite adult themes, past boyfriends, threesomes, taking drugs, freezing eggs and the after effects of halloumi! But it is beautifully balanced.  

Top marks Miss Cohen, you big, beautiful chunk of Texas. I think I’m in love and its only day two! I doubt I’ll see better at the Fringe this year.

Till 25th August 2024 (not every day – check dates), https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Catherine%20Cohen%3A%20Come%20For%20Me%22

Note: 16+OnOnce upon a time there is about a high class, self.  employed

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 2nd August 2024

North West End UK Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Running time – 1Hr

Greg Holstead

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