Giantess tells the story of a little girl who wished she was a giant. A girl who, in the middle of a shopping mall outing with her father is abducted by a horrible troll. As the years pass she realises she must become a giantess if she ever wants to escape. This one-woman show is told through vivid storytelling matched with storybook illustrations and music interwoven with observant standup comedy about everything from politics to go cards, comedy to second puberty. Both aspects of Cassie Workman's artistry contrast each other at times but she transitions between these styles fluidly. When the two narratives unite at last, when the magic of the story’s metaphor is revealed the effect is electric. Both her comedy and story-telling are vehicles for a larger story, one of self-acceptance, family, and identity.
Cassie didn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her experience, either, orchestrating the emotions of the audience: joy, grief, love, frustration. The impact on the audience was palpable, a chuckle at familiar childhood experiences, delighted cheers, and a stunned silence punctuated with a single “oh,” of realisation. Cassie was a delight to watch onstage. She has a mastery of voice and physicality, presenting an evolving self throughout the show, from adorably, sweetly nervous to confidently using the space and minimalist set to her advantage. From the very beginning, shuffling onstage with a cheeky grin she became acquainted with the audience, comfortably welcoming us into her space. I felt this from the back of the room, the intimacy she invited.
Throughout the show this sense of familiarity and intimacy prevailed. From painting a detailed picture of a childhood that could have been mine or yours- getting stuck half-way down the slide, being bribed with candy to behave in the shops, having a father who is doing his best but doesn’t quite know how to react to his child’s uniqueness. The audience’s identification with Cassie intensifies the emotional impact of the harder hitting topics whether or not you have experienced them yourself- childhood experiences of self harm, transphobia, the impact of the political climate.
Cassie utilises a variety of humour from irony to dad-approved puns to self-deprecation and political observations. There were jokes that perhaps didn’t receive the anticipated reaction - a chuckle rather than a howl of laughter - but Cassie established a friendly relationship with the audience and playfully joked around, demonstrating her skill in improvisation and delivery. There is a reason Cassie is a multi-award winning comedienne. Giantess is imaginative, hilarious, joyful and poignant and I look forward to seeing what she creates next.
24-28 September, 2019
Theatre Republic, La Boite Studio
Charlie Lockhart