If you want to tell the truth, the best way to do it is through comedy. If you want to make people laugh, the best way to do it is through comedy. If you want to write a play titled after psychotic genitalia, the best way to do that is through Fringe.

And thus we have Crazy Pussy, the story of a young woman who is struggling to find herself. She is torn between life goals of becoming a stripper and a comedian, and a plethora of psychoanalysis is helping her decide. Co-directed by Alyson Doyle (who also wrote and starred in the piece) and Erin Pim (another performer) this play is theatre meets stand-up, with a touch of burlesque thrown in.

Fighting against the morning blahs of the first matinee (diverse timeslots being one of those delightful little perks of Fringe), the show opened with Doyle on stage bursting with energy. Rushing about, singing, and talking a mile-a-minute she immediately captivates the audience- and what willing captives we became!

By the time Doyle gets around to explaining the title, her inspired version of “the Vagina Monologues meets Cats!”, I was sure this was the best show I was going to see in Fringe. I mean really, that image alone should be enough to impress and disgust you in proper Fringe fashion. But this show just got better and better. Combining witty monologues with absurd humour, she explores coming of age, following your dreams, and establishing a positive self image.

In typical Fringe style the set was nothing special, and most production elements were kept to a minimum. The costumes, however, were spectacular. Particularly the goldfish- yes, this play even had a goldfish!

The goldfish (and many other roles) was played by the charming Erin Pim. While her roles were often silent ones, her facial expressions said more than enough. As she (literally) danced through roles as diverse as Harry Potter and a pharmacist, Pim was the comedic relief within the comedy- which brought the play to another level of delightful absurdity.

Poor Colin Murphy was left to play the straight-man, usually as the deadpan psychiatrist, but did it well and managed to earn a few laughs.  The entire ensemble was talented and energetic.

The show comes with a spoiler, “Contains metaphysical nudity” which aptly describes the final scene, but I’d do it a disservice by describing it here.  You’ll have to anxiously await a remount.

Above all, Crazy Pussy was surprisingly relatable. I’m not saying I ever wanted to be a stripper (though a girl has to pay for her college education somehow…) but Alyson Doyle harks on some worries, insecurities and neuroses that most of us have experienced before. Her brazen explanations of her own psychosis kept the audience laughing through everything from Henry Miller references to Alice in Wonderland-esque dances, but it was also rather touching.  Cliché as it sounds (which Doyle artfully point outs), comedy really does bare the soul.