Review by Brian Carroll
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Solo, Storytelling | PG*
“I heard you laugh,” she said.
“I laugh a lot. Which show?”
“The Cockwhisperer.”
Of course she heard me laugh. It was probably Colette Kendall’s John Diefenbaker joke. I didn’t just laugh; I exploded. They probably heard me in the Rideau Centre.
Or else it was Kendall’s Mick Jagger joke. That one made me explode too.
I won’t repeat either because:
- I don’t give spoilers, and
- They are most definitely unprintable.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I’ve never seen a Colette Kendall show before. I’ve read the reviews. Kendall has personally flyered me in Winnipeg for her shows Tippi Seagram’s Happy Hour, Who’s Afraid of Tippi Seagram and The Cockwhisperer – A Love Story. Twitter buddies across the Fringe circuit have recommended The Cockwhisperer. But it’s never risen to the top of my Fringe to-do list. So I’ve never seen her perform … Until now.
This was a mistake. A BIG mistake.
Kendall is not a natural stand-up comic. She doesn’t have a smooth and polished delivery like Sarah Silverman. Kendall came to the business late – on her 40th birthday.
Yes, Kendall is funny. Yes, much of her material is blue. Make that very blue. But that’s not why these female friends have been recommending this show to me. These women are not usually fans of stand-up comedy.
There are three photos in Kendall’s media kit for The Cockwhisperer. Two show Kendall’s face near a suggestively erect microphone protruding from a naked male torso. I’ve seen both in the media. One is in the Ottawa Fringe program.
But there’s a third picture that I’ve never seen any media use. It’s similar to the others, with two differences. First, a man’s hand is on top of Kendall’s head pushing down. Second, there is the expression on Kendall’s face: it’s against her will. Against. Her. Will.
Kendall’s stories turn to events that happened against her will.
Kendall’s show grew on me as she performed. What won me over wasn’t her humour or her blue material. No, what won me over was her honesty and courage to talk to a live audience about a very dangerous and painful time of her life.
I suspect that’s why my female friends are recommending it. Some of their friends may even be in domestic situations against their will.
I’m recommending that you see The Cockwhisperer. Some of your friends may be in such situations. After you see it, you may come back again …
… with your friends.
* NOTE: The program lists this show as PG. I would revise that to Mature.
The Cockwhisperer – A Love Story by Colette Kendall is playing in Arts Court Theatre on Sunday, June 21 at 1:00pm; Monday, June 22 at 9:00pm; Tuesday, June 23 at 6:00pm; Thursday, June 25 at 7:30pm; Saturday, June 27 at 7:00pm. Tickets $12.
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