Gaulier-trained American clown Zoe Wohlfeld makes her Edinburgh Fringe solo debut with DOG FUNERAL. Zoe is holding a funeral for her childhood dog. Dressed in Victorian mourning garb and ready to cry on command (via water pistol), she’s here to teach you how to properly perform your grief. All she wants is your sympathy, your tears and a goddamn glass of Pinot Grigio (please!).
DOG FUNERAL explores what it’s like to watch someone mourn: how they behave, how they might treat others and what happens when they’re in the midst of grappling with comprehending loss and the existential dread that comes with it.
The show includes audience participation, with Zoe's descent into grief stricken madness determining how far her audience will let her go. Absurd at its core, DOG FUNERAL uses dark comedy to explore grief laid bare, but it also mocks the emotional grandeur and sentimentality that are commonplace in theatre productions that deal with heavy subject matter. DOG FUNERAL is an ode to loss, dogs and the loss of dogs.
Zoe Wohlfeld is an American clown and theatre maker. She moved to France in 2022 to study at École Philippe Gaulier. With her partner Jack Grossman, she created the melodrama/clown show ‘A Night of Drama’, which has run for the past three years in the US and UK.
DOG FUNERAL, co-written with Grossman, is Zoe’s debut solo show: “I had a really hard time processing grief, dealing with the admin, the existential dread, and I became a huge bitch to everyone. I felt entitled because I was going through so much. And I put that in the show!”
Underbelly, Cowgate, Jelly Belly - formerly Delhi Belly, 5th - 30th August (except 17th) @ 5.25pm
Ticket link here.
Age: 16+
Duration: 1 hour
Entry: From £8.50
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
I burp. Every time. I do at least 5 burps.
What irritates you?
When I sleep wrong on my pillow and my neck hurts the next day. This is my answer because I slept wrong last night and my neck currently hurts and I am currently irritated by it.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Rollerblading from Brooklyn to Midtown NYC across the Williamsburg bridge. Without knee pads!
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
The first year I did the Fringe, I was performing in the Banqueting Hall at Banshee Labyrinth and decided that it would be fun to lick milk straight off the centuries-old dungeon floor during my show! I only performed 8 times before I got super sick for the rest of Fringe, all of September, and a little of October. It took 2 rounds of antibiotics, 2 rounds of steroids, and a shot in the butt (also steroids) for me to fully recover. I’ve done a lot of stupid things but I think that might take the cake.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
My partner and I run a show (A Night of Drama) where we give the audience banana peels to throw at us. It’s always surprising to get a banana peel to the face!
What do your parents think of your job?
My dad was a shock jock and made his living doing a local comedy morning show and my mom is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met! They are both clowns in their own right and they like that I want to make people laugh. I also think they (and my mom’s boyfriend Dave) are all grateful to not sit through three-hour long Shakespeare plays anymore. You’re welcome, mom, dad, and Dave!
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
1000000% being on social media.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
Thank you! I try not to think about me too much because if I do I always spiral into self-loathing and regret. So next question.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
From comedy? Barely anything (sometimes negative something) and I’d love to earn enough from comedy to support myself, my boyfriend, and our cats, and to be able to live and travel where we want.
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
Yeah! There are other things like hard work, determination, charisma, money, etc, etc, etc but I think luck is huge. I’d say I get lucky in little ways all the time. I see the needle moving slowly, which is all I can ask for!
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
I think I’m a self-harmer with the aspiration of being a golfer.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
Gizmo, because of his eyelashes, his underbite, and his attitude problem.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
I keep my drawers tidy but then my boyfriend messes them up (did that help?)
AND NOW THE OPTIONAL BONUS BALL QUESTION...I've asked you 13 questions, now you get to choose a question you can ask about yourself and then answer. It could be "Why do you comedy?" it could be "Do you have any pension advice?" Or anything in between. Seriously. Anything at all.
Who is Gizmo?
My mom’s boyfriend Dave’s shih tzu.
Zoe Wohlfeld: ‘DOG FUNERAL’ runs at Jelly Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate from 5th - 30th (not 17th) at 17:15 – tickets here.
Picture by Hudson Hughes
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