Vitamin, Soho Theatre – Review

Pros: It’s so silly that you might just wee yourself with laughter.

Cons: Sometimes the comedy seems slightly repetitive.

Vitamin, Soho Theatre – Review

Vitamin: a natural substance that is usually found in foods and that helps your body to be healthy. The title, “Vitamin”, is so vague, what does this show have in store for us? Is it a remedy for life? Perhaps, since half of the audience were in fits of laughter throughout the entire show and we all know laughter is the best kind of medicine.

Carlo Jacucci, who reminds me a lot of Manuel from Fawlty Towers, is the eccentric Italian behind Vitamin. During his show, he brings us on a trip down insanity lane. I say insanity because at times you really do feel that you might just be in an insane asylum. Whilst Jacucci plays his accordion and sings about the time he was once a lobster, you’re surrounded by a rainbow of laughter that really starts to make you think “Am I going mad?” But this isn’t the type of madness where you want to check yourself into the nearest Priory. No, there is something comforting about this madness, something that makes you want to stay and see how far your mind can be pushed.

The show opens as Jacucci merely walks across the stage (whilst looking at the audience) and saying “good”. While very minimalist and at times slightly repetitive, it consistently had the audience in hysterics. I could see from the onset that this wasn’t going to be your everyday comedy. Next, Jacucci reads the audience a story, only he keeps changing it a bit like when a writer writes. He involves the audience as much a possible in creating a report. He singles out people and asks them their name and then purposefully changes it. By this time you know just to go with it, there is no point in trying to fight the silliness, just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

The performance is beautifully balanced with eccentric dancing/clowning, dramatic accordion playing/singing about being a lobster and even metamorphosing into a caterpillar. Although at times I did feel that some of the comedy was slightly aimless, the majority of the audience seemed to love it.

Vitamin has gained critical acclaim having performed internationally in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Malaysia and the UK. Clearly there is something universally intriguing about what Jaccuci is able to create. I feel it’s like Marmite – you either love it or hate it. It is hard to explain what his performance is like; however, if you like Noel Fieldings Luxury Comedy, then I am pretty sure you will like this. At times, the action can feel rather pointless, but then again what is the point of anything? Through his comedy we go on a journey of discovery that it’s OK to be silly and that abnormal is usually just the norm.

Author: Carlo Jacucci
Director: Carlo Jacucci
Box Office: 020 7478 0100
Booking Link: http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/vitamin-2014
Booking Until: Saturday 12th July 2014