Natalie Palamides: Nate - A One Man Show

I love being challenged, especially pondering on societies take on current events. This was brilliant and made my brain spin! I watched it 3 times, wishing more then anything I could talk about this with someone! It really wakes you up if you're not already. (:

Natalie plays a macho man on stage in a post-"Me Too" world. The character is ludicrous, disgusting, naive, sad and (at points) trying to do the right thing. Gutsy in look, the protagonist is topless throughout the whole show, sporting a wig, hair everywhere and a handle bar mustache. The large physical performance involves purposely awkward crowdwork that is fun at first, shocking in the middle (as the performance gets pretty raunchy) and pretty middling at the end. And that's how you might describe 'Nate' as a whole. A good concept designed to shock that just ultimately fizzles out as the viewer's asking themselves, 'Why?' Is it a meta-commentary on the ultra-serious one man show? Was that the point? Or was it really just about how men just don't get it? The message is intentionally vague but at least it was entertaining.

You almost never see women-the gender that is raised from birth to please and appease-who are this willing to confront an audience, and mess with them and their expectations. I've never seen a more fearless performer in my life in terms of what she's willing to show of herself (himself?) and how she's willing to challenge the audience and wait politely but authoritatively till they show up for her. You absolutely never know what's going to happen, and when's the last time ANY show was like that? Next-level performing.

I haven't been slapped in the face with this kind of comedy in years. If you don't like Kaufman, you won't like this.

If you love the purist form of absurdist crap that leaves you uncomfortable, feeling sorry for the audience, and laughing till you soil yourself, then strap on in.

I need an entire series. I want a collab with GWAR. I can't wait to see more from N.P, because WHAT A GENIUS, HOLY MOLY.

Not only was this show hilarious, but it also has a pretty solid moral lesson for us all............just axe.

I know many who would not manage this. It is literally in-your-face. It is raw, mad, provocative, ugly and very, hideously familiar. The audience is not let off. The few audience members who end up on stage are put through the ringer and it is bad. Very bad. Inappropriately bad. Unforgivably bad. And yet, the whole issue of consent is dealt with right at the beginning. Nobody knows what they have signed up for, Nate is a loose canon and anything that can happen does.

Funny thing is, at the end I cried. I cried properly. I cried for men and women and myself. I cried for Natalie Palmides and for Nate and for the whole audience. Because even when this stuff is laugh-out-loud funny, it tears you to pieces, and reminds you how deep the mess we are in really is.

Don't say I didn't warn you, but Nate is compulsory viewing.