At the beginning of her set, Catherine opens with trauma. The word, that is, with her own rules and explanations for it. It is also the thread that ties together her performance: a series of separate anecdotes written on pieces of paper all strung along together on a piece of string behind her. Each one initially reads as benign, (Queer as Tuna, Listening to Ed Sheeran with my Dad) but reveals a more hilariously awkward experience behind it.
The show’s title belies the style of its performer, which is typically sarcastic and tongue in cheek. Catherine bounces through her funnier moments before allowing herself to become more thoughtful and serious towards the end of the set.
Her content is unfiltered and at times uncomfortable, as she does not shy away from hard topics such as death, addiction and sexual violence. These more troubling themes are where she finds her strongest footing however, being able to confidently voice her experiences with humour and self-deprecating grace. Her refusal to take herself seriously never has the same effect for her audience members, and her darker material only gives credence to her ability as a storyteller.
Watching her show from beginning to end is a journey with many twist, turns, and pitstops. The constant is Catherine’s deftness and likeability which shine through the trauma. I left feeling a sense of personal connection which is hard to forge in an hour, let alone through such a one way medium as stand-up comedy. If trauma bonding is something you’re up for, make sure to give Catherine a watch.
Catherine McCafferty: (Not) That Bad, 15:30, Just the Tonic at the Mash House, until August 25
Tickets are available at https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/catherine-mccafferty-not-that-bad.
