Comedy review: Katharine Ferns is in Stitches

Laughing Horse @ Cabaret 
Voltaire (Venue 338)

JJ

Ex-pat Canadian Ferns 
is a victim of child abuse, domestic violence and drug addiction, harrowing 
subjects she discusses with cathartic frankness in this uneven monologue. As she half-jokingly admits maybe she shouldn’t have billed it as a comedy show.

The strongest segments are played straight. The hacky gags are an intrusion. As a comic exploration of deeply serious issues, it’s a failure; as a confessional piece of anguished solo theatre, it’s occasionally quite moving.

Paul Whitelaw

Until 27 August. Today 1:30pm.