Juliet Myers and Homer, the rescue podenco, deliver their second Fringe comedy run in which we are regaled with tales of life with an anxious dog. Homer is now possibly the most famous dog of the Fringe, and can regularly be spotted about festival haunts expertly posing for photographs. On the day I attended, Homer attempted to steal a coffee cup and then snoozed for much of the show.
An hour of nonstop canine-based hilarity
With her now familiar brand of kooky and consequential humour, Myers recaps for first timers her life with Homer thus far. Amusingly anthropomorphising the loveable podenco into a Portugese gangster and cycling companion, we also hear about his misadventures at the dog park/prison yard, his altercation with a husky and his bit part in a sitcom. All of this is interspersed with anecdotes from Myers about her holiday in Costa Rica and hilariously droll anecdotes based on signing up for a high level competition she wasn’t ready for.
There is a satisfying political element to the show as well, revealing a sliver of Myers’ leftie feminist bent. For example we venture into the world of romcoms, and the unrealistic expectations they set for relationships. This doesn’t take over the show though and is just enough to bring out a deeper level for those who require it, and the change of tempo is welcome and skillfully articulated by Myers. For people just wanting to see a dog for an hour, this is also available in spades. Myers attempts some tricks with Homer, who – in characteristic dog – refuses to comply, until the very end.
The performance seemed to diminish toward the end, and I’m unsure as to whether time constraints were a factor in the slump, or whether it was the pressure of performing a stand-up minus a few of the usual elements - i.e. a few missing props and a dog who slept for most of the show, as dogs do. It ended rather abruptly, with us wanting more - which is a good thing. But perhaps a more seamless end, tied up with a follow on of what adventures Juliet and Homer would go on next, would elevate the performance.
Myers has produced an hour of non-stop canine based hilarity which is well worth an afternoon visit. Fun for all the family.
