★★★★★
I often refer to Hannah Gadsby as ‘our autistic Pope’, because I feel their mix of detail about the absurdity of the human condition mixed with a befuddled expression, really makes them our representative on Earth. That silly comparison comes up a lot in their new show.
Opening to swirling spotlights and Madonna’s Like a Prayer, Gadsby knowingly winks at their newfound fame and influence. They even refer to the ease at which a huge audience will applaud and cheer anything they say. Yet this hasn’t made Gadsby complacent. This new hour is as taut and as brilliantly written as Nanette.
The first half excoriates the neurotypical obsession with group activities; namely Sport, the Barbie movie and Taylor Swift. That feeling of not being able to connect to trends and to highlight them for what they are, namely, that Swift is essentially ‘the acceptable face of late-stage Capitalism’. Yet for all the intellectual observations and damning of social media, it cleverly paves the way for the rest of the show.
So many big comedians evolve into prophets, where audiences will lap up every word and agree whole-heartedly with whatever they say. Gadsby sees this is a trap many comedians fall into when they become famous. They manage to underline that what we are watching is a stand-up comedy show. Yet, perhaps you no longer have any control over how an audience perceives you, or what you have to give them. Luckily Gadsby is way ahead of the curve, and however they evolve, we need to be aware of our own unhealthy parasocial tendencies.
Hannah Gadsby: Woof! is currently on tour in the UK
