★★★★
‘I prefer to do silly things with props, rather than talk about personal things’ so Stephen Catling opines in his new hour. Don’t worry there is plenty of the former, but something new has crept into the absurdist’s performance art/stand-up hybrid; a vein of melancholy. It’s a rich vein too; perhaps it’s the light and shade of some of Stephen’s more silly moments, that makes his asides about depression and relationship woes pack more of a punch, it feels out of place at times, but perhaps we are witnessing a development in Stephen’s work – trying to grow and show more vulnerability?
It can be a cliche when comics talk about emotional or personal stuff; some people say it’s a cynical attempt to elicit sympathy ‘around the 45 minute mark’. Stephen isn’t doing this, it’s a genuine moment of truth. I think it’s different for autistic performers, who are already contending with ableist expectations, and whether to disclose details of their life to an audience who may not understand.
Stephen’s a comic that can bring an audience around very quickly. For all the prop nonsense and clever sound-bites, there’s a lot of considered comedy writing for which he should be recognised for. There were some lines in Moving On that made me howl in a way no other show at the fringe has this year!
There’s an originality to Catling’s work that belies his northern shouty persona, but you’d be a fool to take this at face value, there’s a lot going on. It’s wonderful to see him have a committed following already!
