Review: Katie Norris – Farm Fatale, Fringe 2024

Katie Norris’ combo of music and jokes has given me a whole new idea of the ‘mad cat woman’ trope.

The story, I think, is that Katie grew up on a farm, developed her breasts early, and was, therefore, popular with the local farmers’ sons. As she says, she would milk cows and boys.

Skip a few years, the lockdown hits, Katie breaks up and dives headlong into being a DILF hunting cat lover, looking forward to being someone’s sexy stepmum.

Hey, it’s a plan.

We’re treated to this story through songs, flare, and storytelling. And by flare, I mean Katie likes a dramatic spin on the stage, which she’s good at.

Impressively, Katie manages to do all this while avoiding the worst sort of cringe. Instead, there’s some lovely foreshadowing, common themes, returning characters and empathy. Even as Katie Norris is terrorising her neighbourhood, I’m team Katie.

Tone

“Katie Norris: Farm Fatale” is an adult show. The EdFringe website says it’s 14+, and I think that’s about right. I think 15-year-olds have heard, and use, the C-bomb, know which rabbits use batteries and will get all the jokes.

That said, 15-year-old geeky me would have been uncomfortable to have had any eye contact as Katie sings about being a “mother-girlfriend”.

15-year-old me would certainly have worried that Katie might not be joking when she says the lights are going down so we can all take our clothes off and kiss.

“Katie Norris: Farm Fatale” is sort of a conversational show. There’s no audience interaction as such (although pre-show Katie came out to warn the queue that the venue was boiling – a nice gesture; it was much worse in nearby venues for the rest of the week, and yet Katie was the first performer to warn the crowd) but some front row people might find themselves getting ‘the nod’, or an occasional ‘not you’ aside.

Importantly, Norris is never cruel. Whacky, yes, and has a local nemesis, but she’s not cruel to the audience, any animal or people in general.

What to expect

“Katie Norris: Farm Fatale” combines comedic songs and jokes. It’s one-third song and two-thirds story-through-jokes, and the result is a madcap ride.

Pleasance Below is not one of the boiler rooms in the popular venue; it’s a big one with some air conditioning and stacked seating. You should see Katie well as she spins on the stage. If you take her fancy, you’ll be within her strike range.

Once you’re in your seat, expect Katie to get on stage quickly and to dive straight in. There’s a lot to cover as we find out about the adventures of Atticus Finch (the cat, not the lawyer) and songs about James Acaster.

I had to look Acaster up afterwards. He’s won five Chortle Awards, has been on TV shows like Mock the Week, Would I Like to You?, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and others from that British staple.

Overall

I like singing comedians if a certain song quality is met, and Katie Norris nails it.

I laughed throughout Farm Fatale while wondering if feeding wandering cats was a valid way to meet someone or, at least, allow me to befriend a Russian.

I recommend you don’t bring the kids, don’t bring the parents, go watch Katie Norris with your other half so you can laugh together and be reminded of how good you are together.