Knight, Knight review: Madeleine Rowe has made one of the best clown shows ever
Edinburgh Fringe
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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️
by Zoe Paskett
I first saw Madeleine Rowe at the Fringe last year as part of a mixed bill of clowns, doing a Frankenstein character singing about having to kill their dad to the tune of Shallow from A Star is Born. It was love at first sight, and I set out on a mission to find them. A quest, if you will.
Their first full Fringe run is Knight Knight, a hero’s story of a man and his horse, of forbidden love, betrayal and desperately working up the courage to consummate marriage to a human woman. Trotting in on Hermes the horse, our hero’s journey begins with a magical sword and a prophecy.
What follows over the next hour is one of my favourite clown shows ever. I’ve been telling everyone to go – I want to go again! (I think I might have even doubled over and slapped my thigh at one point, embarrassingly.) Madeleine’s swagger and completely unique and indescribable voice combine to make something so silly, so endearing that the audience are begging to be involved.
They communicate so much with a flicker of their eyes and a slight inclination of the head and there’s no shortage of acting talent (shock reveal of their real life self at the end!), displaying excellent physical comedy, vulnerability and bravado all at once.
Never once in my life have I felt any sort of twinge in the realm of nationalist pride. But I want to join this brotherhood of men (of the round table). I pledge my life to serve this nation (Camelot). Nothing but respect for my King.
Knight, Knight is at Underbelly George Square (Wee Coo) at 20:50. Tickets here
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“Duo Chuck’n’Jeck’s Fringe debut 123movies.com is a whirlwind of sketches tied together under the umbrella of the most nonsensical and most fun awards ceremony you’ve ever watched”
“This is the sort of show that I long for at the Fringe: something queer and weird and extravagant that has an audience hooting and hollering and going out into the night feeling like they’ve just experienced something rare.”
“An absolute hoot. Hudson characterises this fading shine of light entertainment celebrity with aplomb, his frantic desperation to cling onto relevance butting up against the temptations and modernisations of a world that he is ill-equipped to deal with. “
“The social realm is a tricky beast, filled with grey areas and traps that can catch anyone out if they are unprepared. Luckily, Paulette has devised a code of etiquette for handling every social situation you might come up against.”
“This is one of those totally unique late night Fringe shows that will see you leave wondering, did that just happen? Did I and a whole bunker of people just spank each other silly on command? The answer is yes. Willingly, in fact.”
“Character comedian Han Whyte’s drag persona welcomes us to the launch of his new book and a relaunch of his previous works now adapted to be more feminist – at least in his eyes.”
“A show that unpacks this odd existence with equal measures of absurdity and tenderness, emphatically queer, both extremely funny and bittersweet.”
“God’s Favourite is an intense and inspired hour, bound by a combination of zippy writing and a faith in the show’s journey, which the audience shares in wholeheartedly.”
“This debut clown show is more than skin deep, as Maya mines her former life as a telenovela actress to investigate the pressures of remaining youthful, hyper-feminine and emotionally palatable. “
“Sexy baby, harangued ex-wife to a deadbeat genius, male growth plot device… How far have we come really?”
“Her characters provide a showcase for her wide-ranging comedic abilities and allow plenty of space to play”
“The immediate standing ovation that met Mothman’s curtain call came as no surprise. This is the type of show you’ll leave feeling like you need to see it again.”
“She’s dynamic and natural on stage, a simultaneously high-powered and relaxed stand-up.”
Getting to see Cooking With Kathryn is the perfect example of a welcome Fringe surprise – someone new to me and the Fringe, who has created something that fully reflects its anarchic, messy spirit. An absolute riot.
Gross in some places, soft in others, raucously fun all the way through. It’s a clown show that fully celebrates the joy of playing around. At every opportunity, Su takes the wilder option and runs with it.
Like the skirt suit she’s in search of, Baby Doomer is woven from honeyed threads. She wears both wonderfully. Can you plausibly call someone one of the greats this early in their career?
Marjolein’s perspective is a gift and Lein is another hypnotic, lyrical piece of work, and as funny as ever. Even if we haven’t all watched nuns trampolining in Amsterdam, being lost is a universal feeling.
I love all of it. Ayoade Bamgboye has the freshness of a new comedian performing without rules or restrictions. You truly have no idea what she might do next, and she makes it appear like she doesn’t either. It’s thrilling.
There are few people more naturally suited to the job at hand. Molly McGuinness’s debut Slob flows out of her with seemingly effortless dexterity.
I’ve been hearing rumblings of Ayo’s talent for a while and it’s immediately obvious why, both to me and this sold out crowd. His ease on stage, his delightful, sunny disposition and winning earnestness all combine to endear you to him straight away.
