Pros: A quirky, funny, fast paced piece, suited to the Soho Theatre
Cons: Proceedings are sometimes dominated too much by discussions of genitalia or from trying too hard for audience reaction
Summary
Rating
Good
A fun filled night of frivolities, mayhem and antics, Woof is an entertaining spectacle for all to enjoy.
The performance is fast paced and utterly bonkers from beginning to end, catapulting audiences into a typhoon of flamboyancy and slight randomness. However, within the randomness is a real sense of comedic genius and timing that the girls master with true skill. The show ranges from imitating the sophisticated Downtown Abbey inspired female riding side saddle, to a mini puppet show highlighting the possible episode ending to Bill and Ben the flower pot men. Another of these puppet inspired moments explores the evolution of the dinosaurs, a topic the girls start off by demonstrating but which then turns into a steamy make out session. Plastic eggs are thrown in every direction to highlight the sexual drive these animals must have had all those years ago.
A second major theme of the production, which I would argue dominated proceedings a little, has to be the constant mention of the female genitalia. They discuss how hairy, large, wide, awkwardly shaped it can be and the girls do not hold back. In a way this is why the performance is so funny, because in day to day life we frown upon such vulgarity. The three actresses do it in a subtle yet obvious way, without being overly grotesque, even accompanying their cheeky story line with musical scores. One song is inspired by ladies hairy nether regions, another is based on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. One even discusses the cleaning process one must undergo after masturbation and finally a frilly little number talks about men’s love for dick pics. The three bombshells put it all out there and their bond as a company shines through in their performance.
The only real downfall for me during the piece has to be the odd moments of trying too hard to get a reaction from the audience. The material in itself is funny so I believe the girls should have perhaps tried playing some of the work straight as opposed to total slapstick, as it became a tad tiring at points. Plus, as a spectator it felt that so much of the piece was about sex and body parts. This maybe needed toning down a bit to allow other key moments room to breathe, in order to be fully appreciated by the audience. Having the performance at the Soho was a good decision however, not only for the connection it has to the company, but because the theatre’s constant search for quirky and interesting new work matches up with Woof nicely.
I recommend it to all those who fancy a relaxed and jolly evening’s escape, ensuring heaps of shocking moments that will leave your jaw feeling rather sore!
Written and Performed by: Kitten Killers
Box Office: www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on
Booking Until: This production has now completed its run.