Lost Girl, Underbelly George Square.
The story of Birdy, a young Manchester woman of Arab-Jewish heritage, searching for her own identity as she grows up. When she discovers a photograph of her grandfather when he was a child, with a girl by his side, she finds out he had a twin sister who was kidnapped. Grandfather is unhappy at having this memory brought into the open. Whilst working as an archivist, she discovers the same photograph had been donated to the archive ten years earlier. But by whom? And is there more to discover about her family past? Written and performed by Amy Lever, the play examines a fascinating family dilemma, as Birdy blunders from one misjudgement to another in an attempt to make sense of her life and to come to terms with the past. For me, the piece was overperformed and could have benefited from more light and shade in the vocal characterisations and narrative approach. As a writer, however, Ms Lever shows great promise.
A Montage of Monet, Greenside at George Street.
We all know about Monet’s waterlilies, and that he was the poster boy of the impressionist movement, but did you know that, in his youth, he was a great cartoonist, and when he was stationed in Algiers on National Service, he drew pictures of which he was immensely proud, but none of them has survived, sadly. And what do we know about his private life? Stephen Smith lifts the lid on Monet the Man in A Montage of Monet, Joan Greening’s wonderfully written dramatisation of his life and loves. As an old man, Monet is cantankerous, dependent on his daughter-in-law Blanche to look after him – which he resents. But looking back over his life, he recalls the professional jealousies, the painters he liked – he would only like someone if he knew he was a better painter than them – the places that inspired him, the women, the models; and also his constantly evolving styles of painting. Stephen Smith gives a superb performance as Monet, self-opinionated, grumpy, but hugely charismatic. A very satisfying show on many levels; and it’s educational as well as telling a great story!
Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet (Angus Baskerville), TheSpace on The Mile.
Angus Baskerville presents an hour of very impressive magic that he performs alongside recounting his own personal experiences of autism and ADHD, how they affected him at school, and how his aptitude for magic has changed his life. He involves the entire audience in some of his tricks, many of which reveal his excellent skills as a mentalist. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the show for future audiences by giving you a run-down on what tricks he did, but there are a few tricks here that simply blow your mind. Presented with lively enthusiasm and a cheery friendliness, this is a perfect afternoon fix of magic for all the family.
Sam See: And I Can’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, Laughing Horse at the Counting House.
Sam See’s new show, And I Can’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, is an account of how he decided to uproot from Singapore where he had lived for 30 years and start a new life in the UK. He explores the reasons why he felt he needed to leave, why he chose the UK over anywhere else, and what his hopes are for his new life in Britain. His is a fascinating story, both hilarious and sad; and his hugely likeable stage presence has us all rooting for him from the very beginning. A sparky, effervescent and dapper chap, Sam sets a tone of affable inclusivity, very much at odds with the homophobic experiences he had as a stand-up comic in Singapore. Only time will tell if he’s made the right move, but this most entertaining hour of comedy is a delightful mix of funny stories and personal confession.
Shower Chair, Greenside at George Street.
When Ben Fallaci breaks his ankle and gets stuck in a geriatric shower chair, it’s about as low an ebb as his life can get; but from there, the only way is up. Shunned by male friends at school, Ben comforts himself by surrounding himself with girl pals, which influences all aspects of his social life. This is a masterfully told hour of one man’s development from childhood, a journey of self-discovery, best friends, toxic mates, and the abandonment of his greatest enemy. Very believable, frank, open and brave; but also very funny, positive and life-affirming.
Notice Box, Greenside at George Street.
Sometimes when I see a show featuring someone described as a TikTok influencer or a viral sensation my heart sinks as I will almost certainly not know who the person is (while the rest of the audience are ecstatic fans), and the material will be aimed at someone at least forty years younger than me. But there are exceptions to every rule; and Simon Hennessy’s Notice Box is ideal for everyone who has a smartphone, with clever, quirky and hilarious takes on every aspect of phone dependency. From the carefree early days of social media, through the inability to use dating apps with dignity, to the embarrassment of having to share one’s Spotify Unwrapped list, this show is crammed with fantastic sketches and songs – with amusing visual accompaniments! Mr Hennessy has a very funny, hugely self-deprecating stage persona, and, although we were indeed forty years older than everyone else and probably the only people not to have heard of him, we absolutely loved his show. Way better than it has any right to be!