Internet sensation Tatty Macleod makes her Fringe debut with a dose of self-awareness, wit, and a knack for storytelling.
At the heart of Tatty Macleod: Fugue lies the concept of cultural appropriation, of which the comedian admits her own guilt, but the artist also delves into themes of identity, globalisation, and belonging. Her performance manages to engage a generation beyond borders, speaking directly to millennials who, much like her, have experienced Erasmus exchanges and the necessity of leaving their home country, sometimes forgetting who they are and identifying with the distant and the foreign. Through her life story, her family, and her experiences, Tatty explores cultural stereotypes, delivering clever satire that pokes fun at cultural biases and clichés.
Tatty Macleod: Fugue offers a delightful hour of entertainment and reflection on a highly relevant theme that resonates with everyone. Tatty directly involves the audience, a technique embraced by many contemporary artists, weaving spectators into her jokes and punchlines, encouraging introspection about the world and ourselves and our limits.
She does this with a refined touch, maintaining an intelligent, elegant, never crude humour, evoking a certain French flair reminiscent of those soft-hued, subdued French films that remind us of a simpler way of living and good-heartedness. However, the show perhaps lacks a bit of the sharpness and aggressiveness that Tatty Macleod is known for, thanks to her success on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, as usually, her cultural satire draws strength from short-form content and the ability to create sketches and comment on current affairs directly, something that gets diluted in an hour of stand-up comedy.
Nonetheless, Tatty Macleod: Fugue successfully balances humour and social engagement. It needs a tad more bite to match the distinctive edge of Tatty Macleod, who’s rightfully celebrated for her fearless cultural commentary. The next time around, she might consider pushing the envelope further.
