REVIEW: Caroline Rhea: I Identify as a Witch – Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock

It’s hard not to warm to Canadian TV and stand up superstar Caroline Rhea.  Back in Scotland after multiple sold-out and critically acclaimed runs at The Fringe, she is on the finest form of her career.

The joy and warmth just radiate from Rhea the moment she steps onstage and the (mixed age, race, gender) packed crowd are on-side from the start. Showered with gifts (a crocheted Salem Saberhagen complete with teeny-tiny witches’ hat to a spectacular hand-crafted, rainbow sequin jacket with her likeness appliqued on the back) she weaves her tales of fame and celebrity around her clever interactions with the audience. Her ability to cycle back to tiny pieces of information gleaned from the audience is mightily impressive.

Rhea is a natural storyteller, and as madcap as she is, her grounded Canadian-ness at the madness that surrounds her daily life is utterly relatable. Tales of Taylor Swift sit alongside, dating in middle age, menopause and an encyclopaedic knowledge of astrology.

If you get the chance to see her live then jump at it. A true stand-up master at their best.