Boo Hoo - written and performed by Judith Faultless at the Hen And Chickens Theatre, on the Camden Fringe, 2016 (16-8-16)
The Hen and Chickens is a very intimate theatre, perfectly formed for honesty and individualism; there is nowhere to hide. Judith Faultless doesn't even try to!
From her opening, “awkward”, pub scene she was never going to avoid the painful reality of modern life as a single woman. No spoilers, but even the harshest of moments lend themselves to gentle comedy with raucous laughs.
Just in case you might be worried, this is not a diatribe against the unfairness and judgmentalism of society and family. It is a wonderful affirmation of humanity, individual strength, becoming a mother, silly hats and Lego!
Hanging out her metaphorical washing line of nonchalance and passion, Judith races through the complications of coming to terms with age, expectation, failure and fear with a humour that is immediately engaging and heartfelt. The audience was not just drawn in but became a part of her, sometimes, hysterical narrative and laughter was ever-present.
Except when it wasn't. There are moments that catch the audience both unaware and expectant all at once. Her honesty is at times uncomfortable but she never shies away from it.
Adoption is not an easy topic, especially with the stigma attached to anything bearing the “local authority” tag, but social workers and councillors come in for truckloads of comic… praise. And rightly so.
Throughout her performance, Judith switches from certainty to insecurity with uncomfortable and totally believable ease. The mania that surrounds the life changing decision to adopt is sensitively dealt with, and extremely funny. Audience members were left in tears and hysterics.
Judith’s constantly self-deprecating, extremely funny insecurity is as much an indictment of the society in which we live as it is ultimately shown to be a comfort blanket with which she surrounds herself.
It's brilliant. So is Judith.
I don't do spoilers. Just go and see it!
Last show on Wednesday 17th August at 7.30pm at the Hen And Chickens Theatre.
Tickets available from: http://camdenfringe.com/show.php?acts_id=551
Go and see it. Seriously. GO!
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