⭐⭐⭐
Cabaret show ‘Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy’ has one of the most intriguing title's at this year's fringe. It's certainly what caught my attention! It's the solo debut show from Katy Berry, star of renowned musical improv group Baby Wants Candy.
I loved the premise: "Berry discovers late in life that she’s the product of a secret one-night stand between her mum and Poseidon: the Sea King. Realizing she is a Demi-Goddess, Katy reclaims her repressed magic from being raised as a ‘mortal’ on Long Island."
Right from the start, Berry and her team are fully committed to the theme. The audience are strewn with a plethora of bubbles fired from bubble guns, the mic stand is adorned with aquatic tinsel, and Berry herself is dressed head to toe in sublime, sparkly sea-goddess attire. The lighting is lovely and there is a fantastic keyboard player (Adrien Pellerin) heralding the crowd with his accomplished tunes. It's a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
Through a collection of original songs and comedic storytelling, Berry recounts the tale of discovering her unique maritime parentage. If only she had known that she was part-goddess earlier, well, that would've saved her a lot of trouble during her teen and college years!
There are some terrific, positive and important messages hidden beneath the whimsy. Especially for teenage girls. Her revelation that you don't actually need to burn-off your pubic hair, that having it is perfectly normal to goddesses, is just one compelling example.
Berry has charisma to burn; she's an energetic, engaging performer. Her singing voice is equally impressive, but I did find the sound levels to be off, particularly during the songs. The backing music was a little too loud, and as a result I missed some of the words and context.
The humour throughout the show didn't always land for me either, but that's personal preference.
Berry has clearly put her heart and soul into creating 'Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy'. It's incredibly brave to venture out on your own, and to put on a show at the fringe to boot. Berry has not taken the easy route: she has put a great deal of thought and care into producing something different, unique and playful. As someone who sees A LOT of shows during the festival, I know I won't forget meeting this Goddess.
⭐⭐⭐
When and Where?
Venue: Just The Tonic @ The Mash House – Bottle Room
Time: 2.10pm
Dates: 3rd – 27th August (not 14th & 22nd)
📸 Photos: Mindy Tucker
About Katy Berry
Katy has spent the last several years traveling the world performing full-length improvised musicals with veteran comedy troupe, Baby Wants Candy. With them she has performed at New York’s Kennedy Center, multiple sold-out Edinburgh Fringe and across Europe. In addition to live performances, her videos and writing have been featured on Vulture, Studio360, Bustle and more. When not performing, Katy teaches screenwriting at the New York Film Academy and has a burgeoning career in the entertainment industry with three feature scripts currently attached to producers and a directorial debut feature film in the works.
🌟 REVIEW - Katy Berry: Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy (Comedy, Cabaret, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023)🌟
🎟️ Disclosure: I am an Edinburgh Festival Fringe accredited media reviewer and as such I receive complimentary press tickets in exchange for my honest reviews. My reviews and star ratings are always my honest opinions.
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