The Calgary Herald Review

Canadian Voices
Fringe Review: The C--kwhisperer--A Love Story
Four stars/5 stars

Written & Performed by Colette Kendall
Review by Stephen Hunt

There are props, and then there are Colette Kendall's props.
I won't say what it is, but let's just say it relates directly to the title of her smart, funny, one-woman show, which explores Kendall's search for love and penises.
Standing at centre stage, dressed in a simple, elegant black cocktail dress, Kendall looks like she could be any old upper-middle class Yuppie corporate woman. Except she's standing there telling 100 perfect strangers the story of the first time she saw a penis other than her brother's.
It belonged to her first real boyfriend, a tall, blonde heartbreaker, and her story of him and his penis is a funny, touching monologue about adolescent sexual angst that ends not only badly, but itchily.
The middle penis of the night belongs to her first husband. That's a little less touching and a little more terrifying.
The final penis belongs to the man she left her husband for, John, who--alas--was her husband's best friend.

In between monologues, Kendall verbally spars with members of the audience in a good-natured way, and regales us with C--k Facts.
Kendall, who has played previous Calgary Fringes doing her one-person shows about Tippy Seagram, is a solid writer and strong performer. With the C--kwhisperer--A Love Story, she has found a wonderful connecting thread with which to tell the story of the main men in her life.

4 Stars/5 Winnipeg Sun

Men beware, this play might offend your tender Victorian senses!
The powerful coming-of-age story of Colette Kendall is an austere expose of growing up as a young, protestant, naive-but-burgeoning woman in the late 1970s and an emerging love of, well, you know.
This one-woman show is honest, revealing and will have you laughing from the moment the lights dim to the moment you leave. But don’t be fooled; it's not all fun and games. Serious moments are interwoven to create a well-rounded and empowered performance.
One warning to anyone who likes to sit in the front row: Kendall will interact with you, which is hilarious if you’re in the mood.
From the creator of the Canadian Comedy Award-nominated Tippi Seagram’s Happy Hour and Who’s Afraid of Tippi Seagram?, Kendall delivers a show that will make you laugh from the bottom of your belly with her unforgettable stories.

Vancouver Fringe Awards The Cockwhisperer- A Love Story

The Nasty Award: The Cockwhisperer: A Love Story
Colette Kendall accepts her anatomically correct prize! (All Awards Night photos by Brice Ferre)


Yes, there actually were other contenders, but the Cockwhisperer perfectly fulfilled the criteria of the show you’d least like your grandmother to see. Thanks to Colette Kendall for being the gracious recipient of this fun award!

Thank you to all our 68 performing companies for contributing to an extremely rich and diverse year of theatre! Awards are just one way of celebrating. We’re proud to say that every day of the Fringe was a celebration of theatre and the artists who create and perform it!

2009 Canadian Tour Dates

London Fringe Festival June 18-28
Winnipeg Fringe Festival July 15-26
Calgary Fringe Festival July 31-Aug 9
Vancouver Fringe Festival Sept 9-20