After hearing Trygve Wakenshaw's Comedian's Comedian Podcast episode last year, I was very intrigued to see what this physical comedian/mime could offer.
Wakenshaw is a New-Zealand comedian now based in London. This is his third Edinburgh solo show and last year's show KRAKEN (which I'm due to see on the 30th) garnered a lot of hype and excitement. Expectations were high.
He didn't disappoint.
Nautilus is an 80 minute show filled to the brim with slick mime and animals. With only two props (some bubble wrap and a can of coke) and talented work from the spotlight Wakenshaw produces a breath-takingly funny and creative show.
Although it's mime, there's plenty of adult material, but nothing so crude that it's mindless; no, his scenes are carefully performed and with just the right level of suggestion to make this a very intelligently made show. He plays on lots of classic comedy ideas but twists them into new ways to breathe life into them - everything in his show is at once familiar and new.
There are many similarities between Wakenshaw and Boy With Tape On His Face - both are tremendously inventive in their physical stylings, both are fantastically playful and both are great performers.
What Wakenshaw does well is he's able to create whole worlds and scenes from nothing but his fascinatingly flexible thin frame; he's got outstanding control of his body.
He's got some great callbacks and running themes and overall this is a truly entertaining, joyous show that is sure to fill everyone with delight and remind you of the childhood fun from simple slapstick and mime comedy. An excellent show. I can't wait to see KRAKEN.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th (not 24th)
Time: 22:00
Price: £12 (£11) weekends, £11 (£10) weekdays
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