Review – Kraken
Kraken is not so much a show as silliness expressed through the exuberant physicality and unadulterated charm of Trigve Wakenshaw. In it he performs a series of comedic skits that are delightful in their simplicity and profoundly hilarious in their delivery.
He mimes a knife and demonstrates its sharpness by poking his finger. “Owie!” he cries, before sweetly kissing his finger better. He repeats the routine a few times, alternatively stabbing himself and kissing the affected limb. Then, unexpectedly, he throws the imaginary knife at an audience member in the front row! She clutches at her neck. “Owie,” he exclaims, grinning sweetly and moving slowly towards her, before kissing her neck better.
Very little of this skit comes through in the telling – I can’t explain how relaxed the audience were in the presence of this man, how comfortable they seemed to be about a stranger giving them little kisses on the face, and how forthcoming the giggles were throughout his act.
Kraken is the sort of show that forces you to adjust your definition of what a Fringe show can be. It probably deserves important words to be attached to it like “transcendental”. All you need to know, though, that it is hilarious, charming and unique in about equal measure. A thing to be seen.
