Review: David’s One-Man Band (F*ck You Steven), Soho Theatre

It’s an open-mic band night at Sticky Floors, the coolest under-16s night in the Bay Area. Enter 13-year-old David, the creation of character comedian and theatre maker Laurie Stevens, with his black hair swept over one eye, who embodies everything about the mid-to-late noughties emo. As the titular character of David’s One-Man Band (F*ck You Steven), David (played by Stevens), is desperate to perform tonight. But to play at a band night, what he needs is the rest of his two-person band, Steven. And here’s the problem: where is Steven?

Stevens’ mostly one-person act is full of desperately awkward teenage antics, with David trying desperately not to appear gleeful to have a captive audience all to himself. A guitar, drums, bass and microphone on stage are used to perform David’s songs, which are so spectacularly on-the-nose for this era. Stevens’ musical performance is ironically skilful, bringing the vibe of an under-rehearsed and under-talented 13-year-old, while the songs are written with the right amount of performative melodrama. David is, obviously, deeply misunderstood…

Even though the concept and writing are funny on their own, Stevens’ performance as David gives David’s One-Man Band its comedic edge. Fully embracing the gawky emo teenage boy mindset, she becomes a caricature that is reminiscent of the time. The little gestures in the performer’s face, though, give a tongue-in-cheek edge, as if she fully knows how funny it all is, and something about this makes David even more endearing. The little hair flicks are accompanied with knowing expression, and David’s ungainly gestures come with a glint in Stevens’ eye which makes the audience cheer him on. In this way, David is equally the awkward thing that every teenage emo was, and at the same time is recognised and championed in the way they all wanted to be. 

We are obviously meant to be fully behind David. This night at Sticky Floors is his Wembley, and Stevens’ writing and performance have us fully carried into disbelief. A handful of props, which are pretty much the only things used apart from musical instruments, are given to the audience to create a make-shift arena set-up: dry ice (talcum powder), a streaker (a naked man apron), and the lingerie to be thrown at him (bras from his mum’s dresser). It couldn’t be further away from what it is meant to be, small and budget, but an enthusiastic audience, ready to show up for this little champ and have a good time, makes it feel dazzling. Everything about David’s One-Man Band feels gleefully funny as it pokes fun at and celebrates the painful awkwardness of emo culture and the kids who were growing up in it. I wholeheartedly admit that I fit the perfect demographic to enjoy Stevens’ creation, because I was something like a David in the same way, in the same era. But we’ve all been a little bit David at some point in our lives – so throw caution to the wind, come along and laugh with him from beginning to end.

Written by Laurie Stevens

David’s One-Man Band (F*ck You Steven) has now finished its run at the Soho Theatre.