Tom Greaves: FUDGEY
★★★★☆ Tragicomedy
Assembly Roxy (Venue 139): Wed 31 Jul – Mon 26 Aug 2024
Review by Hugh Simpson
Tom Greaves: FUDGEY at the Assembly Roxy is a funny, disturbing and at times deeply tragic piece, featuring convincing storytelling and wonderful physical comedy from Edinburgh-based writer/performer Greaves.
Tom Fudge’s reaction to the shock of being sent to boarding school is the same as that of all of his peers – survive the only way you can, by repressing your emotions completely.
Tom Greaves as Fudgey. Pic: Tom Greaves
This produces the adult ‘Fudgey’, a depressingly familiar portrait of an oblivious hearty in a business suit. He is addicted to ‘bantz’ (and other things besides), unable to relate to women except as a ‘shagger’, and his outward unthinking bonhomie conceals deep hurt.
This is an extraordinary performance from Greaves. He is relentlessly physical, extremely funny and occasionally truly painful – not just in his interactions with the audience, but in the flashes of self-knowledge that threaten to destroy the character. Others, including members of Fudgey’s family, are portrayed with an equally spiteful energy.
This is an extremely well put together piece of theatre. And theatre it certainly is, despite coming under the ‘comedy’ section on the Fringe website; anyone expecting an undemanding hour of stand-up will soon feel decidedly ill at ease.
Greaves may occasionally poke fun at his use of puppetry or other techniques, but – just as Fudgey has formed a carapace to disguise his true feelings – this production is extremely skilled at disguising just how sophisticated and clever it actually is, and how serious everyone is about the effect it produces.
exemplary
Lara Ciulli’s direction and technical work is exemplary; there are some moments of lighting and stage business that would shame far bigger spaces than this archetypal Fringe cellar. The small size of the venue does mean that the performer and audience are in almost absurdly close company at times, which only heightens the effect.
Tyrell Jones co-directed an earlier version of the show, and Trygve Wakenshaw helped with the physical comedy side; the end result is a credit to them all.
While the non-linear narrative generally works extremely well, the ending is less satisfactory. It is easy to understand why it has to end this way – and there is one last bit of hugely accomplished clowning – but it fails to live up to what has gone before.
This does not diminish from the overall effect, however. Fudgey is such a horrendously recognisable character that he gives us all cause to ponder why so many people who hated their own time at such institutions still subject their own children to them, perpetuating the cycle of neglect and abuse in an attempt to gain a social advantage. Prime Ministers of recent years have shown clearly how this all ends up for everyone else.
Running time: One hour (no interval)
Assembly Roxy (Downstairs), address, EH1 1TH (Venue #)
Wednesday 31 July – Monday 26 August 2024
Daily (not 14, 19) at 5.55 pm
Details and tickets at: Book here
Facebook: @Tom Greaves Fudgey
Instagram: @tdrgreaves
X: @GoodbyeFudgey
ENDS
