Stephen Catling’s Clownfish Out of Water is a chaotic hour of stand-up. His crowd work and props showcase very strange animal facts. The show jumps between autism, Disney remakes, Oasis, AI, sex, marine life and Catling’s experiences in the workplace, often without much warning.
Catling’s strongest quality is his willingness to commit to the bit. He moves around the audience, repeatedly acknowledging how close he is getting to people, and turns the awkwardness into part of the joke. Parts of the show felt very distasteful, particularly when he goes around with “octopuses’ semen” (shaving cream) and blesses the audience like Simba from The Lion King. Unfortunately, neither gag was particularly funny.
His sarcastic delivery works particularly well, although audience members, including me, become recurring parts of the show, and his ability to build jokes from their responses doesn’t always work, leaving the room silent in points.
There are some genuinely good ideas here. Catling’s discussion of autism and feeling like a “clownfish out of water” gives the show a personal centre, but his delivery wasn’t on point, which made parts of the show drag and failed to hold my attention.
The constant switches in subject can make the show feel lost, and while there are moments of potential, the show doesn’t quite come together.
Steven Catling Clown Fish Out of Water, 22:30 at Wee Container 1 at Hoots at Potterrow at 10:30 pm from August 7-31
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/stephen-catling-clown-fish-out-of-water
