In an era where one might assume certain battles are long won, comedian Kate Owens proves there is still sharp, fizzy comedy to be mined from the sexism embedded in some Christian traditions. Her show, Cooking With Kathryn, is currently serving up a potent mix of rebellion and ruin at London's Soho Theatre, where it runs until 10 January.
A Recipe for Disaster and Dark Humour
The premise finds Owens playing Kathryn, a woman from America's Bible Belt thrust into an impossible situation. Forced to host her late mother's community cooking show for the first time, Kathryn is a portrait of barely concealed panic. Owens, a Best Newcomer nominee at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for this show, embodies the role with a charismatic, teasing energy. The character is instantly recognisable: the woman on the edge, her smile a little too bright, her makeup a mask for turmoil.
While the central argument—that zealous Christianity can subjugate women—is well-trodden ground, Owens injects it with sparkling, manic life. The show's strength lies not in its novelty but in its execution, as Kathryn's attempts at domestic divinity descend into slapstick chaos.
Physical Comedy and a Biblical Brew
Owens' formidable physical comedy is the engine of the performance. Cookery segments spiral into disaster, featuring an erotic egg-beating skit and a hastily improvised tinfoil bandage. The tension is deliciously amplified when Kathryn spots her supposed sweetheart in the front row, adding a layer of psychotically needy energy to the proceedings.
The narrative takes a decidedly gross-out turn as Kathryn is tasked with concocting and consuming an unappetising "biblical brew" passed down through generations. Preferring her own tipple, she descends into drunkenness, a state Owens portrays with impressive, broad physicality.
A Climax That Doesn't Quite Rise to the Occasion
If the show has a weakness, it surfaces in the final act. The climax feels slightly undercooked, with a so-so song about Kathryn's deviations from chastity and a too-neat absolution delivered by her mother's summoned spirit. This resolution can feel a little convenient given the messy, complex issues baked into the story.
Nevertheless, the journey is packed with memorable moments. Owens' deft clowning ensures every scene is pregnant with possibility, culminating in an unforgettable "deflowering ceremony" involving two brave audience members and an ominous bedsheet. Her command of the room is absolute, though as her culinary catastrophes prove, being in Kathryn's hands is a precarious place to be.
Ultimately, Cooking With Kathryn is a darkly funny and physically inventive hour that proves some satirical recipes are worth revisiting, especially when handled by a comedian with as much sparkle and skill as Kate Owens.
