Before this show was about to start Jay, who was sitting on the stage playing his guitar as the audience was filing in, stopped and told the crowd that he normally has water with him but he had forgot it. So he asked the audience if there was anyone who could play guitar whilst he went and go this water, a guys hand went up and so began this very odd, but pleasant, few minutes of a random being Jay’s stand in. He might have had to continue doing the show as Jay told us he had forgotten his pass to get back in.
This would become the overall tone and theme of Jay’s show. Incredibly warm, friendly, and he had a great rapport with the audience that was pretty unique. There was a good balance of ages in the crowd though I think he focused a bit more (well picked on) the students which was punctuated with a classic student song about stealing food which was amazing. Many of his songs where relatable and his range was quite diverse from the carton drink Calypso to the original Captain Birdseye, but I think my favourite song was about John Lennon and The Beatles.
Jay uses a lot of his own experiences well in his show and the student theme continues when he starts talking about his time at University and the things he thought he could do. But for us, as am sure for each night, he asks someone from the audience to come up and help him with a play he’s written and he couldn’t have picked the most unlikely audience member than Alan, a very Northern (I think Newcastle) care worker. Though once he got on stage his wife come running up with his reading glasses which got one of the most beautiful laughs I have heard.
So standing up there Alan and Jay tell this story, played out with Jay singing and Alan doing the spoken word bits. This was a great piece and worked so well the crowd loved it and Alan was a true trooper.
Jay Foreman give his show a real life that is full of his honesty, passion, and perfect humour that is fun to watch. He sometimes seems to think that some of the references may be lost on the audience and outside of the fringe and with a more awkward crowd I can see his point. But at the Fringe he doesn’t have to worry much at all as his song and material are well written and delivered. This show will leave you wanting more!
Review pending re-edit.
