Body roll enthusiast and pocket-rocket of musical comedy energy Katie Pritchard is a barrel of fireworks, channelling her musical megastar persona embarking on her ‘stadium’ tour – that just happens to be in the back of a pub. She is so full of ideas she can barely keep up, as her drifting New Jersey-ish accent rattles through, gasping for breath in short whistles, as she welcomes us, her devoted fans, and dives straight into a pop-tempo welcoming pop song at a speed any Zumba instructor would be proud of.
She’s a megastar on a shoestring, with the props and backing tracks to prove it as she launches into what she primes to be her “relatable” tour. And she is relatable, in a barmy, embraceable, and very human way. Prichard is unapologetically fun and bubbly, aggressively joyful while she pogoes singing her truth that she’s a sausage, and giving it her all in a ballad to IBS. Kitted out in a self-pimped unitard, Pritchard has sparkle and enthusiasm and so many ideas they barely fit into the hour she has. However, when she jumps about between them it could give you whiplash, and bits of lyrics are lost in the general enthusiasm.
Pritchard is having fun and going large, which is infectious. This isn’t billed as a work in progress but the same show returning to Komedia in July is, which would explain its sparkly ragged feel and the not quite off the iPad notes state. Pritchard has a great connection with her audience, even giving out stickers at the start to mark clearly who is and isn’t up for engagement during the show – a nice nod to participation consent. It’s a safe and fun space with talented ideas. Now, if she could just take a breath and slow down just a little, we could all be kissing the music with her.
Half A Camel – Maris & Otter, 8 May 2024, 8pm
www.brightonfringe.org/events/katie-pritchard-i-kiss-the-music
