I have never seen anyone with as much brilliant, frantic energy as Matafeo. Practically tripping over her own words, she whisks you off on a whirlwind with her from the very first moment with this incredible, buzzing madness that doesn’t let up for a second throughout the show. It could - and perhaps should - be too much, but for some reason it works. The madness suits her and the show, and it’s an hour of pure fun.
It often seems like she’s strayed from script, as it were, going off on tangents always as amusing as the original point, but it’s clear to see the set is very well constructed; there is an effortless flow between topics that can be difficult to achieve. Matafeo has a wonderful stage presence and a magnetic draw that I’ve rarely seen.
Some projection (featuring some excellent WordArt) and brilliant song choices work well to aid her tales without feeling out of place, and the slightly random playing of table tennis with audience members at the beginning just foreshadows the craziness that is to come.
The hour races by as you find yourself laughing helplessly at her hilarious proclamations about the struggles of being a straight woman in 2018, her exposé on the aggressive nature of the online crocheting community, and her tale of the time she almost accidentally masturbated. Some jokes do fall flat, and the set is far from perfect, but she recovers well every time, and there’s never much time between laughs. I have no doubt she’ll only get better, and I think she’s one to watch.
Rose Matafeo: Horndog is on at 18:20 at Pleasance Courtyard until August 26th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the EdFringe website.
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