“Singing, vaping, making men feel insignificant;” these are Katie Norris’ three main hobbies. This is the bold opening statement of Go West Old Maid; Norris’ follow-up to her 2024 solo Fringe debut. What follows over the coming hour is nothing short of a delight. Largely a tribute to her late thespian father, this show is a true testament to Norris’ wry wit and undoubted skill as a comedian.
Norris seems completely comfortable on stage, slipping in and out of impressions of her father, mother and other people in her life in such a way that the audience can easily imagine that they are witnessing the real conversations that she is recounting. She cultivates an intimidating presence, moving seamlessly in and out of her domineering persona with playful jokes and quips with the audience. For some of her anecdotes, Norris chooses to sit with the audience, speaking as though she is sharing hot gossip rather than performing a stand-up set. It is here that her skill as a performer is particularly evident. She is easily able to converse with the audience as a friend, whilst simultaneously chastising them, keeping viewers on their toes throughout the show.
Her disdain for men is at the core of the show. This is clear in her song godchildren, in which she describes each of her ex-boyfriends as toads. This comes as the first of the shows hilariously melodramatic comedy songs. These songs are the icing on the cake of this already fabulous show. There are plenty of comedians who incorporate musical numbers into their sets, but none who do it as successfully as Katie Norris. Her vocals are perfectly polished, and the songs are woven seamlessly into her standup set without feeling awkward or clunky.
The highlight of the show comes near the end when Norris recruits the audience to perform a rendition of her late father’s play. She casts two audience members as roles in the play and instructs the rest of the audience to make sound effects. The result left the audience practically gasping for breath; a hilarious way to honour her father’s wish to stage a play at the Edinburgh Fringe.
This show is an absolute pleasure from start to finish, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Katie Norris: Go West, Old Maid is running until 24 August at Beneath at Pleasance Courtyard.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Avalon, provided to The Student as press material.