‘Non-stop laughs, gasps, and enough to keep you on your toes while pinned to your seat’
After massively successful back to back runs of “Princess Diana: The Untrue and Untold story” and “Gwyneth Goes Skiing”, Linus Karp returns to fringe with a show that combines his drag show antics, audience participation, witty one-liners and sardonic humour with a more grounded examination of an attack Linus suffered from in 2024. Linus Karp has once again delivered 60 minutes of non stop laughs, gasps, heart-stopping moments and enough curveballs to keep you on your toes while pinned to your seat.
‘Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella’, departs from the lighter tones of his previous productions, instead we get a show that at times is incredibly solemn, and gut wrenching. Of course, it being Linus Karp, we are accompanied by a constant stream of levity, sarcasm, drag show shenanigans and audience participation that often baits the audience into saying something ridiculous or horrible with all the energy of pantomime villains. It goes without saying that Linus as usual is hilarious from start to finish and this focus on such a grim topic as homophobic abuse and trauma, only it makes it more delectable when he steps back from a touching silence to remark how he wishes bruising from the attack was more dramatic and sexy, to everyone’s laughter.
Despite the show being so dark and personal, recounting the PTSD, the nightmares, the fear of being outside, the contextualisation that this is part of growing hate crimes trends in the UK, Linus’ comic timing and presence bring a comfort. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps a quip, a song, or puppets but Linus always ensures that we have a good time and the tone never settles into excessive melodrama. I expected to laugh at Linus, but the masterful command of drama, timing and storytelling instead brought me close to tears at some points, Linus’ character and drag humour makes it even more of an affront to our sensibilities when he recounts his attacker saying “I’d have killed you if it wasn’t for him”. The show always surprised me. In one of the curveballs I can talk about, Linus shows empathy and tries to develop an understanding for his attacker, repositioning his trauma as just the final conclusion of a longer series of failures and tragedies that culminated in this man wanting to attack strangers.
What is it about wearing shorts and a “hot girls have problems too” shirt, could make a stranger want to kill me? He remarks, to a strained laugh from the audience, but the question is sincere. As the show comes close to it’s conclusion the personal trauma is exposed for what it is really – a drop in the growing ocean of hate crimes. While Linus is an incredibly talented comedy writer, it’s this widening of the scope of the show and it’s examination of one hate crime against a larger backdrop that ensured it will prod the back of my mind as long as the fringe runs. The eventual trial of his attacker (featuring a lucky audience member) and the grand ending (that I am not allowed to elaborate on) is an eruption of every feeling and theme Linus has finely toyed with throughout the hour, it left me with an overwhelming feeling of joy, and perhaps a bittersweet sense of justice.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/linus-karp-was-hit-with-an-umbrella
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue: Underbelly, Bristo Square
Dates: Aug 5th–30th except 18th
Time: 20:20 (60 mins)
Ticket prices: £15.50–£17.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com