A return season of The Hairy Godmothers’ comedy-cabaret to Ukiyo at Gluttony opens a world of possibilities for the Fringe-goer – are they ready to get soaking WET? Metaphorically, I hope. 

A series of thematic vignettes tied together by a string of comedic interludes by an ever changing MC (NOT the master of ceremonies), WET seeks to ask a lot of questions about the feminine experience, what it means to be female; there is a wealth of possible answers to these questions, the key is picking the RIGHT question to ask. 

These vignettes range from purely comedic with a tinge of satirical bite (a woman attends the gynecologist with an array of comedy props, a physics professor muses on Schrodinger’s masturbating cat) to truly heart wrenching, with one of our actors reading a hand writing letter to a women in the audience, in lieu of her own mother; allegorically touching on the “village” it takes to raise a child through the use of some random audience member willing to help, and the implicit bond shared through motherhood – we’ve all got a mother. 

The pièce de résistance is the finale; the women symbolically undressing physically as they bare more and more personal aspects of their personal lives; a beautiful coming together of theme and style as presented. The women of WET are also incredibly unique and deeply skilled, this show is incredibly slick and well put together, even in an incredibly tight venue and multiple costume and setting changes. 

Through research, I found the show was formally called PUSSY – apt; the opening cinematic is a poem on the etymology of the word. My personal favourite moments; the highlights of the show are when the woman posited the intersections between their femininity, their history, and their personal circumstance; race, disability. These moments hit harder than any comedy bit and whilst the producers likely do not get to change the timeslot of the performance, I wonder if an 8pm or 9pm slot could have allowed for more visceral impact and shock to the system. More elements that make you uncomfortable, squirm in your seat. A 6pm time slot limits the ability to lean into this. 

See it. It’s an important work, by talented women.