Review: Sam & ____ (WIP), filmed version

Gaz and Sam’s production of ‘trouble in Paraguay’ is a man down. Gaz is running ten minutes late. With the threat of an extortionate overrunning fee looming amidst a time crunch, Sam decides that a show must go on…at least until Gaz arrives…eventually…

This show is a work in progress, currently being performed and developed by Sam Walls- a zestful comedian and member of the clowning group, ‘Bad Clowns Comedy’. It was first performed at The Hen and Chickens Theatre on the twenty fifth of March this year, followed by Canal Cafe Theatre on the twenty eighth. Next month, the show is heading to The Caxton Arms as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. 

The design choices are very simple yet effective: no set, minimal props and casual clothes. This streamlines the audience’s attention to the performer, setting them up for a more intimate experience and personable experience.  

To experience Walls’s comedy is to be called to wade into the sea of humor by a clown-faced siren. 

First we experience the shallows in the form of the introduction to the straight- forward premise. The comedic techniques used in this half of the show establish the tone and ease the audience into it, focusing on giving the audience permission to laugh at Sam’s discomfort. Following a seamless transition, we wade in a little deeper and encounter recurring jokes; We start to really feel Sam’s struggle, which, to an extent, becomes masked by the growing levels of audience interaction. Finally, we find ourselves caught in the deep end, defined by a combination of the building elements with the gut punch of the show’s underlying messages and themes. 

This is a comedy show with surprising resonance, which grounds it in the relatable, thus giving it a strong heart. Not only does it explore the intertwined relationship between the audience and the performer, but it also explores boundaries and tolerance levels, especially in regards to the effort we sometimes go to for people who won’t meet us halfway. It gives credit to the patience and time needed to meet someone at their level but it also argues on behalf of self advocacy, saying that it is worth mentioning where your needs are not being met and having the honest conversation to resolve the problem.

Walls is a strong, multi-disciplined performer with a keen sense of comedic timing, a clear consideration of the nuances of comedy and how to utilise both to align with his particular skill set. He uses his natural playfulness to his advantage, inviting us to join in with the implicit game, which makes it a really engaging experience. Additionally, he’s able to generate a lot of the humor in the show through both the subversion of expectations and setting up of expectations. His acute sense of the importance of a solid structure enables the show to be balanced: the pure joy and ridiculousness of the comedy is just as strong as its more sincere underlying messages. 

This show is still a work in progress, but it is one that will surely go far in its development given how brilliant it already is in its current state. The waiting for Godot of the sketch comedy world. 

Star rating: **** Four stars 

Age rating: Twelve plus.

Content notes: Strong language, audience interaction, brief references to politics, references to sexual acts/items.

For more information and tickets for the upcoming run at Brighton Fringe: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/sam-and-_____/