Unless you have filled up your diary far in advance, a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe can be filled with off the cuff decisions as you find yourself with hands full of flyers and surrounded by walls of colourful posters advertising the multitude of shows on offer. And with so much going on, plans can change at the last minute and hidden gems may suddenly present themselves.
Picture the scene, after a few days escaping it under greyish skies and a ferocious wind, the heavens over Edinburgh have broken, its pouring with rain and you walk into Zoo Playground; a venue that feels strangely out of place and severely under advertised just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Southbridge. Half an hour before the start time, you book tickets for one show, only for it to be cancelled due to tech issues 10 minutes after that scheduled start time. So, you turn to the famous Nearby Now button on the Fringe App, have a read of the descriptions and a scan of the reviews and decide to take a chance on another show in the same venue that was starting in less than 10 minutes. And that is how we found ‘Jack Goes To Therapy: A (Somewhat) Romantic Comedy’. An absolute hidden gem, it's funny how things turn out.
Written and performed by Zac Williams as a one-man show, ‘Jack Goes To Therapy’ is the story of Jack’s experience of heartbreak and how he begins to come to terms with that heartbreak with the help of his supportive best friend, his colleague at work, a nurse at the STI clinic and ultimately a therapist he decides to visit when he simply cannot find a way forwards. His long-term boyfriend has left him for another man, he is stuck in a loop of endless dates that lead to nothing, and he is desperately trying to hide his sexuality from his roommate, all whilst he acts all fine at work to his colleagues and his kindergarten students.
It would be easy to look at this production and think that it all sounds awfully dark and perhaps even dreary, but Williams’ writing, and performance skill really shines through as he effortlessly balances the seriousness with wonderful comedy that will have you laughing out loud. Alone on a stage with nothing but a chair and the one costume he wears for the show’s duration, Williams’ plays more characters than I could keep count of and has the audience hanging on his every word. The story is an emotional rollercoaster; one minute you are laughing at the chaos of Jack’s kindergarten classroom and his strange excuses for things as he tries to hide his sexuality from the roommate he worries will not approve, the next you are drawn entirely into Jack’s feelings as he tearfully explains how he is feeling and describing his heartbreak as the ring he was going to propose with burns a hole in his pocket.
Williams’ is an incredible storyteller in this semi-autobiographical piece, and at times you could have heard a pin drop in that room. The character of Jack is wonderfully heartfelt and sweet, and throughout you are willing him on to find that peace and comfort that he needs. The story is open and honest, highlighting the importance of admitting when you need help and how a conversation, a simple ‘how are you?’ can be the one thing that someone desperately requires, even if they don’t realise it. The importance of talking about how we are feeling is at the heart, surrounded by comedy and the spark of finding happiness in the small things, even if the big things are troubling you. Little moments matter.
Important Fringe lesson here friends, don't be afraid to take a chance on something new, something that you may not have heard much about, you could find something wonderful like this.
‘Jack Goes To Therapy: A (Somewhat) Romantic Comedy’ runs at Zoo Playground daily at 7.20pm until Sunday 25th August.
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