King/Queen/Master Clown: A Review of ‘WEER’
by Connie Say
Natalie Palamides’s one-wo[man] show ‘WEER’ has to be one of the most impressive shows off-West End right now. The deconstructed Rom-Com is currently playing a 10 day residency at the Soho Theatre, Walthamstow, and depicts two characters, Mark and Christina, who have a blow out fight on the biggest night of year: New Year’s Eve, 1999 (“Y2K-eh!”). The story then traces the characters back three years, to their meet-cute, and subsequent relationship. Condoms are given out to the front row and audience go-ers should be made aware of the splash zone on stage left. Natalie Palamides is one of the top performers in the clowning scene, having just finished performing ‘WEER’ at the Cherry Lane Theatre (operated by A24) in Greenwich Village, New York City.
Above anything else, the show is mightily impressive. Whenever Palamides faces stage right, the audience sees ‘Mark’. A selfish, slightly depraved, mess of a man. When she faces the stage left, the audience sees ‘Christina’. A high-flying writer, who dissolves into crazed ‘spice up your life’ hysteria over the course of 90 minutes. Physical comedy is alive and o ‘so well at ‘WEER’. The title of the show you ask? “We’re….We’re…..We’re…..soul mates I think”, before the two characters, (and one performer) passionately embrace. ‘WEER’ is also making marked notice on the relationship between speech impediments and deer’s.
No, truly.
Your guess was really as good as ours.
I loved this show, and the audience participants were great sports; to the point where the fellow granted a microphone in the middle row of the stalls received some serious laughs himself. I could see for some, it could be too crude, rude, erotic, and farcical: but for those very reasons I loved it. Inhibitions must be left at the door, and silliness must be up taken with gusto. ‘WEER’ is hilarious, so very clever, and hosts some excellent pre-show music. All hail the king, queen, and clown (genuinely – the highest of praise), Natalie Palamides.
