A double-billing of Squid Boy and Kraken had my face and belly aching. Trygve Wakenshaw’s two hilarious shows are easily the funniest things I’ve seen so far in the festival. This man is a master.
It’s mime in so far as there is little talking, very few props and a surprisingly detailed world crafted from gesture and the odd sound. But, I worry that the word ‘mime’ doesn’t capture it. It’s enlightening knowing he trained with Gaulier, the master of theatre clown who is responsible for training the likes of Sacha Baron-Cohen, Emma Thompson and Simon McBurney (of Theatre de Complicite). Le Jeu or ‘the game’ is fundamental to his teachings, the child-like playfulness and pleasure is explored beautifully by Wakenshaw.
The shows are similar in style but quite different in format, Squid Boy being slightly more narrative (though only very loosely so). Kraken is, you feel, all the things Trygve does best in a free for all format which is fast, irreverent and probably my favourite of the two. His mimes meld hilariously and seamlessly into each other, for a wacky one hour rollercoaster. They are both dark and playful, poignant and ridiculous.
I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. PLEASE go see it.
