Words: Alex Grunberg
Image: Mandee Johnson

5 Stars

Jamie Lee’s friend Katy died at the age of eighteen under unusual circumstances. And Jamie Lee, a lifelong true crime fan, decided to sift through clues and suspects to find the answers to this mystery in her show “Jamie Lee: My Friend Katy.” What happened to Katy? Who can be held responsible? And how can Jamie find the answers so many years after the event occurred?

If this seems like a dark premise for a comedy hour, it is. Many times, Lee’s recollections and discoveries brought me close to tears. But the emotion would be upended with an unexpected punchline that interrupted the darkness with laughter. Similarly, humorous moments would be cut with sudden dark revelations that immediately silenced the audience.

These highs and lows are deftly navigated by Lee’s intelligent storytelling. The visual enhancements in the stage design contributed to the true crime frame, complete with recordings and corkboards to follow the developments of Lee’s investigation. 

It is not a lighthearted comedic performance, and it is not meant to be. The show is as much of an investigation into why our grief longs for tragedy to resemble the true crime format as it is an investigation into the crime itself. It is a sincere attempt to find closure for an old wound. And Lee approaches her melancholic comedy with specificity, vulnerability, and respect for her friend.

Jamie Lee
Cabaret Bar at Pleasance Courtyard
16:00
18 August – 25 August