Tag: Kate Wilkinson

Kate Wilkinson Running On Ice

By Colin Flaherty Running On Ice

It’s unfortunate that the review night of Kate Wilkinson’s debut solo show Running On Ice was scheduled for her preview / opening performance (some shows have to bite the bullet and volunteer for an early review slot!). At the moment she has a fairly short show of solid storytelling that raises plenty of smiles but needs more work to actually find the funny.

The title comes from a Billy Joel song, explained in great detail by gushing about her love of Mr Joel’s work; a nice daggy way of endearing her to the audience. Running On Ice also explains her shaky thought processes and the slippery grasp she has on certain aspects of adult life. Kate regales us with stories of eavesdropping on stranger’s phone activities, tricks her brain plays on her just before sleep and her mother’s passive-aggressive disciplinary techniques. She also shares her thoughts on American politics and warped expectations of raising a child.

Kate certainly knows how to hold the audience’s attention and vividly illustrate her stories. An engaging storyteller, she goes into great detail with every tale which fits well with her eccentric thought processes but often comes dangerously close to excessive minutiae. These are fascinating tales which garner smiles and chuckles of recognition (especially if you are familiar with all the pop culture references). There seems to be plenty of amusing concepts scattered throughout but they currently lack strong comedic payoff. She gets her biggest laughs with the odd hilarious line which have the appearance of offhand remarks that aren’t integral to the story.

Kate has worked with the comedy / theatre group Aardvarks Anonymous for a number of years so she certainly has developed some solid stagecraft. She puts on the odd silly voice and makes some wild gestures but this embryonic script can’t be improved by such smoke, mirrors and misdirection. This solo effort is sure to develop its comedic ideas and sharpen up as the season progresses, hopefully resulting in a more hilarious show before closing night.

Running On Ice is on at Highlander Bar until April 2.

Visit the Comedy Festival Website for booking details.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/running-on-ice-kate-wilkinson

Kate and Steve Are Friends.

By Hannah Frazer 

When you go see a comedy show, your hope is to leave with a smile on your face, to be able to re-enter the real world with a new found excitement and a nice cheap hit of endorphins. Kate and Steve are friends will most certainly do all these things to you. The easiest most direct way of describing this show would have to be a stage full of carefully structured randomness. Kate Wilkinson (the girl one) and Steve Varley (the boy one), previously of comedy troupe Aardvarks Anonymous, take you on a journey of the ups the downs, the trials and tribulations of any good friendship.

From the beginning there is a contagious excitement and energy that comes from these two well-seasoned jokesters. An unemployed Varley wanting to find a new lease on life and Wilkinson desperate for the cash so she can get to Disneyland and meet her idol, her hero, her obsession, Buzz Light-year. They work together, coming up with ways to make this happen – queue the fun.

Not only a well scripted show, Wilkinson and Varley also allow themselves room to play and to get creative with some musical improvisation. Simply given a couple of random words, they let their minds go wondering, and the final destination is hilarity.  Their plans, though not always fool proof, are still met with determination and a contagious enthusiasm.  But when their friendship is tested, will they be able to forgive, move on and get the band back together? Or is this the end of Kate and Steve as friends?

With a long time off stage friendship evident, these platonic life mates bounce of each other really well. Both energetic and full of life, they use this show as a chance to embrace their inner child and in turn you can’t help but want to jump up there with them, and become the third member of this amusing and vibrant duo.

With only a couple of days left of the Fringe, make sure you get down and enjoy the playtime that is Kate and Steve are Friends.

Kate and Steve are Friends is on at Word Warehouse, 14 Goldie Place Melbourne at 7.30 until Oct 5

www.melbournefringe.com.au