Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Magnificent – An ode to humanitySummary
Rating
Unmissable!
Ivo Graham starts off his routine come one man show referencing this very jump; from comedy to something that feels a bit more serious. ‘Just because it has music under it, it doesn’t make it theatre.’ This remark beautifully dissolves the undeniable tension created by his poignant introductory monologue. This becomes the institution of the piece – an overwhelming and moving tension built then dismantled by Graham’s signature self-deprecating observatory comedy.
The show is themed around memory and regret. We navigate this via the ten ‘objects I can’t throw away.’ These are our lighthouses. Clear and at times blinding in their truth, anchoring us to points of Graham’s life. The piece bears all with Ivo Graham taking us through some of the most traumatic periods of his life, structured around these ten objects. His writing is gorgeous. Simple in its execution, completely understandable but still detailed and textured. Full vivid, sensory landscapes are painted yet somehow jokes and idiosyncratic oddities find their way in to flavour these stories, making for a perfectly balanced piece of theatre.
Graham uses theatrical devices throughout: monologues timed to pieces of music, lighting changes and short role-played scenes to name a few. He is upfront and honest with the use of them, mentioning the process of conceiving these ideas, writing them, and how he (knowingly and naively) envisioned them actually working. This charming openness completely removes any self-righteousness and Graham shows himself as both a meticulous writer, as well as one laden with humility. A rarity in the format of one-man-shows.
Music is central to Carousel. A classic key into memory. Songs important to Graham are allowed their own space, allowed to play and for the audience to soak them in as pieces of art in and of themselves. Memory, really, is just the stories we tell ourselves and we as the writer of these stories control what we include and what we sweep under the carpet. Graham tactfully explores this truth and wholeheartedly tackles the duality of nostalgia – a sweet emotion, but as we all know, too much sweetness becomes sickening.
Graham is an unusually thoughtful and caring man, we learn through his sharp observations and crushing reflections. His performance is entirely a level up from what has come before from his comedy. Deeply personal stories are courageously driven through with gritted teeth only for Graham playfully to jump from the depressing to the thrilling with deft, beautiful finesse.
The show is somewhere between a letter to himself and a rally cry to all of the actual and potential Edinburgh performers of the world – a humanizing window into the truth of being a performer. His thoughts consistently begin with ‘you…’ – “You make the train with seconds to spare”, for example – this encourages everyone in the theatre to place themselves inside of these adventures as much as it encourages introspection from all involved, a simple device put to devastating effect.
To use his own words Carousel is beautiful, dismal, magical, horrible. It is also a heartbreaking honest study on humanity, it is an experience I recommend having.
Written by: Ivo Graham
Produced by: Off The Kerb in association with Park Theatre
Carousel has completed its run at Park Theatre. It will also be playing at Edinburgh Fringe from 31 July – 25 August. Further information and tickets available here.
