The entertainment world is officially obsessed with Kate Berlant. The brilliant comedian and actress is sending shockwaves through social media with her critically acclaimed one-woman show, “Kate,” directed by comedy mastermind Bo Burnham.
Currently playing a highly anticipated run at the Pasadena Playhouse after celebrated, sold-out stints in New York and London, the production has become a massive talking point online. Fans on TikTok and Instagram are praising the show’s mind-bending format, which playfully blurs the line between reality and performance.
From the moment theatergoers step into the venue, Berlant completely takes over the space. The entire theater is covered in dramatic black-and-white portraits of the star, and even the box office has been rebranded as the “TICKATES” booth, creating an instant viral photo-op for fans.
The Ultimate “Inception” of Comedy
In the production, the Emmy-nominated actress plays a fictionalized version of “Herself” trying to tell the story of how she became a performer. Throughout the show, she jumps into recognizable theatrical character tropes before abruptly breaking character to address the audience directly.
The writing is so wonderfully meta that even Berlant admits she used to get lost in her own script.
“It was confusing,” Berlant shared. “When I was writing it, even I would get lost. ‘Where am I? Where is she? Which Kate is this?’ But I think that ultimately helps, as there’s something a little blurry about the show. I would definitely get dizzy writing it.”
Redefining the Stand-Up Persona
Berlant, who has appeared in major Hollywood films like “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is well-known for playing with the concept of identity. While many view stand-up comedy as a direct window into a performer’s soul, Berlant views it through a slightly different lens.
“A standup is ostensibly directly from the soul of a person – I’m onstage telling it like it is,” she noted. “But it’s also a play, it’s a performance. Even the most beloved standups who are speaking from their experience are still animating a character.”
The star referenced a quote from comedy icon Molly Shannon, who once described herself as a “dramatic comedian,” a label Berlant absolutely loves. “It used to bother me when people called my stand-up a character because I consider myself to be no less a character than anyone else doing stand-up,” Berlant explained. “This is me. But, well, it also isn’t me.”
The New Era of Live Audience Interaction
While the physical and emotional demands of the show are intense, Berlant is embracing the challenge of putting herself on the spot every single night. Interestingly, she also noted a major shift in how audiences behave during live performances in the digital age.
When asked about dealing with live hecklers who try to derail the performance, Berlant revealed that the culture has moved entirely online.
“To be honest, it doesn’t really happen that much,” Berlant admitted. “I feel like live hecklers sort of died off; now people can break things down later on TikTok or social media. In person, there are people you have to shut down from time to time – but it’s really few and far between.”
With fans continuing to flood social platforms with glowing reviews and theories about the show’s secrets, “Kate” is proving to be a certified cultural phenomenon that has everyone talking.
