British people love a school story; St Trinians, Malory Towers and Harry Potter all tap into this. And Will McKenzie (The Inbetweeners) and Adrian Mole fill the niche of teenagers who are one part intellectual pretension, one part social awkwardness, and two parts accidental comedy. So would Sorry (I broke your arms and your legs) have anything new to say? The answer is, yes it does give a hilariously fresh viewpoint, and it is also the first to tell that something new with a Powerpoint presentation.
Produced by Maybe You Like It, this one-character comedy show feels like a piece of confessional theatre. It possesses an immense energy, pace, and verve, underpinned by a touching sense of pathos. James Akka, who performs the piece, captures the specific vulnerability and misplaced cockiness of adolescence perfectly, delivering Sam Wilson’s story in a way that is consistently hilarious.
The school rituals are observed with a keen eye for detail. The setting feels very British, with school houses named after monarchs (the distinction between Elizabeth I and II a tiny touch that drew smiles from the audience). Sam’s attire tells its own story: the blazer, the tie, and the array of academic badges covering every subject except PE. It reinforces to the audience that our protagonist is a proud, non-athletic nerd. Sam yearns to be head boy, needing the title as a vital form of validation. While the school setting is detailed with precision, the feelings of trying to get ahead and the raw vulnerability of being a teenager feel universal.
The use of Powerpoint is truly inspired. We all remember that initial joy in the nineties and early noughties of discovering slide transitions, and seeing them used here is wonderfully cringe-inducing. The narrative also features a careful twist; we are led to believe in one foe only to find the reality is quite different.
Akka is a very talented performer. He maintains a brisk pace and executes clear switches between characters. He is funny but also allows the character’s vulnerability to shine through, keeping the audience engaged and firmly on his side, even when Sam is behaving badly. Despite the lack of a physical set, the lighting is used effectively to move between scenes, and the use of hair volume as a transition is a clever and funny touch.
This is a piece that understands that even when theatre is a lesson in the human condition, it should be a pleasurable and insightful one. It is a fair, warm, and deeply funny look at the trials of growing up.
This production is currently being presented as a double bill alongside another short play, Down to Chance. This pairing offers a full evening of excellent storytelling, though the two pieces are very different in tone and subject matter. There is a discount for seeing both shows. You can read my review of Down to Chance here.
Running Time: 60 minutes
How to save at the Pleasance:
The Pleasance offers a variety of ticket deals, including concessions for students and seniors. It is always worth checking their website for “Early Bird” offers or local community discounts if you live in the N7 area.
[Thank you to Chloe Nelkin Consulting who provided gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.]
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