Alice Tovey - Doggo

After 2019’s sensational Garbage Monster, Alice Tovey could have comfortably rested on her laurels knowing she had already created something amazing. Instead, she doubled down and crafted something more ambitious, layered and powerful than anyone could have thought possible; a one-woman stadium-rock extravaganza about man's best friend.

Doggo plants its feet firmly in the realm of cabaret, but its paws are outstretched into damn near every conceivable form of comedy. Stand-up, parody, satire - it's all on offer and all melds beautifully into a wagging tale of acceptance, independence and four-legged affection.

The strings on Tovey’s bow are borderline uncountable at this point. Voice of an angel, moves of a drag queen and sharper than a canine’s canine, she executes her talents with poise and ease - jumping between and combining them without missing a beat or breaking a sweat.

Tovey’s knack of genius is at its purest in her sensational blurring of lines between allegory and authenticity. In particular, her commentary on the over-sexualisation of women in media (particularly those of an underage status) via the lens of responsible pet neutering is genius beyond her years. It’s savage and side-splitting all at once without ever losing its way or its message. Tovey states throughout that she harbours a sense of anger that can only be subsided by pups, and boy is it fantastically clear throughout the piece. She utilises and weaponises disdain for the world like no other and channels her rage into some of the funniest tunes imaginable. All this while also creating bonafide bangers in the process.

Doggo is a wondrous and joyous ode to dogs, a staggering indictment on society, and a fucking good time.