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John Cairns for Open Book in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents
Wide Asleep
Written and performed by Iain Heggie
Directed by Alasdair Hawthorn
Musician: Tyler Collins
Music by Christine Bovill and Tyler Collins
Lyrics by Iain Heggie
Designed by Gordon Bavaird
Lighting by John Cairns
4 – 19 Oct 09
A review by Chad Armitstead for EXTRA! EXTRA!
How does the old saying go? If you can’t say anything nice, then get me eight inches of copy ASAP. I think that’s it. There are definitely points to praise, but as its title suggests, Wide Asleep feels like it hasn’t quite decided what it is yet. Award-winning playwright Iain Heggie performs his almost-solo show Sunday and Monday nights at the Finborough. Wide Asleep is a collection of semi-biographical monologues punctuated by songs, all written by Heggie. It is a companion piece to The Tobacco Merchant’s Lawyer, also currently running at the Finborough. Heggie is accompanied by guitarist/songwriter Tyler Collins. The show is funny. But not extremely. It’s insightful. But not exceptionally. The advertised ‘darkly comic’ songs are, well, a bit dark and a bit comic. I left not quite sure what to make of it. Heggie invites us onto his playground, but we’re not quite sure what game he has planned. As a piece of drama, it’s not quite cathartic. As a piece of observational stand-up, some of the punch lines aren’t quite punchy. As a piece of musical comedy, it’s not extremely musical or comic. Though you do find pieces of all of these littered throughout. The playwright does come through, however, with a few moments of insightful clarity. Heggie highlights the clumsiness of human expression when his compulsively critical neighbour Judy reveals that she actually cares a great deal about him, despite the fact that she constantly rails on his monologues. Though I found myself guiltily agreeing with neighbour Judy more than once. The songs are offbeat and observational. Heggie himself proclaims that he’s much more of a writer than he is a singer. No objections here, but that fact perhaps makes the purpose of the songs a bit confusing. Sung in an ambiguously earnest tone, it’s often hard to tell whether Heggie expects the songs to be taken as serious observations or jokes. If the songs are meant to be comic, Heggie’s performance is fine but the jokes and situations could be clearer. If they’re a sincere attempt at song-smithing, a serious musician could perhaps do them more justice. As it is, the songs waver between the two ends of the spectrum, no matter who sings them. Though more musically virtuosic, accompanist and music co-writer Tyler Collins sings one number with all the fervour and eyes-closed passion of the love child of Thom Yorke and Chris Martin, further drowning any comic intent that might have been attempting to surface. With that said, the show isn’t without a few comic jewels. Heggie’s monologue about the friends who come to his show and fail to recognise themselves in the material has a great, honed punch line. Likewise the story of his motley collection of Heggie-obsessed neighbours stumbles its way into some true comic brilliance. As an acclaimed playwright, Heggie is certainly capable of more than this show lets on. Speckled with a few shining moments, this show feels a bit like a comic trying out new material that hasn’t quite yet found its true form. I haven’t yet seen the other half of Heggie’s pair of plays at the Finborough. But as a companion piece, it’s very possible that Wide Asleep is the dysfunctional half of the relationship that is drinking all of the other piece’s beer and not paying any rent. Given his many successes, Heggie has the acumen to eventually make the play fire on all cylinders. As it stands, there’s just enough insight, comedy and observation to keep you from regretting the time you spend with the show. And at sixty minutes, Heggie himself states that he doesn’t keep you for long, faithfully heeding the advice about brevity and wit.
October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 (Sunday and Monday evenings) Tickets: £13, £9 concessions Book online: www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk Box office: 0844 847 1652
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ary Couzens