Catherine Cohen: The Twist...? She's Gorgeous

People are just scared of women that are loud and funny and opinionated and upfront about their experiences in the world

as a woman in my early twenties I feel really lucky to have a person like her to look up to and can't wait to see what she does next.

While it's not a barrel of laughs, I enjoyed the quirky originality of Catherine Cohen's song-and- standup performance. Not sure I would watch another of her shows, but as a one-off, it was a good hour's worth of entertainment.

I saw this show in 2018 in cabaret venue and it was spectacular then, and it was the same now on screen. The comedy is a hilarious reflection on the pains of the current culture of narcissism and everyone having 'main character syndrome' or wanting to have it. Her voice is gorgeous, flexible and clear. The opening song is almost a thesis statement for the entire show. She is a victim of herself, and presents her unhinged spiralling with espirit and does self-deprecation in a new way that I have not encountered before.

It is odd to read some of the other reviews here, saying the she has a bad voice, because that is blatantly false (and makes the reviews seem entirely disingenuous). Also I wonder if these reviewer have ever been to a cabaret, if they understand the tradition she is working within is not stand-up. It is cabaret! Cabaret is bawdy, that is one of the main features, a shock for the puritanical undercurrents that persist in American society. Cabaret is gleaming, liminal, glittery, grubby and funny; and Catherine Cohen imparts these tones gorgeously.

I honestly don't get the cynical nature of the previous review. Obviously written by a straight man. I thought this comedian showed a fun, eccentric, off beat personality that's all her own. I laughed throughout. I'm actually watching it again.

The Twist...? She's Cringeworthily Mediocre

I wanted to like this special. I'm always excited to see new stand-up, and I love when a good-comic can defy the untrue stereotype that "women aren't funny".. this was not one of those times. This comic presents as an overly narcissistic, desperate for your attention, cabaret act that feels like a knock-off Amy Schumer during the sub-par joke sections and a wanna-be Bo Burnham during the uncatchy/unfunny songs. There's even a poetry reading bit that failed to land even half as hard as Burnham's nearly 10 years ago.

The comic's lack of self-awareness is really what pushes this special to become "cringe". She'll tell you she's a fabulous singer after she sings a greeting to the audience and they don't clap (as they shouldn't). This comic is not a strong enough singer or comedian to blend the two professional performances together while remaining arrogant. A little self-deprecation toward her singing voice would have made an enormous impact on how she's perceived.

I believe if she sets the music aside until she's polished the comedy, we could see a really funny second special from her. Unfortunately her potential was squandered this time by trying to juggle too many pieces.

If you like Amy Schumer and don't know who Bo Burnham is, you might like this special, everyone else can pass.