Greg Fleet @ Grand Central Underground at The GC, Adelaide 1/3/2019
Dear Greg Fleet,
I’m just wondering when exactly you got access to my thoughts? I mean, I don’t remember being in your apartment, arguing about pot and Mario Kart, but I know I’ve had that conversation at some point. We can talk about it later. Thanks
Set simultaneously in the present and in his memories, we are introduced to Jimmy Harrison. His flat is small, but it has all he needs. Alcohol, art supplies, weed, and one bed that he now gets to share with Sophie and her amazing record collection.
Fleet visits his memories and it’s not always a pleasant holiday. He relives them in all their beautiful, painful glory, sometimes as a silent bystander, sometimes begging Jimmy to behave differently even though he knows from the thousands of previous rememberings that its futile. Past Jimmy has made some mistakes, and we get to watch them with a live soundtrack.
The music is so important to this show, it’s a character in itself. From Paul McCartney and Wings, to Darryl Braithwaite and Oasis, each song setting a mood and a place, speaking louder than the words the actors actually say.
Only Greg Fleet is credited, the actors portraying him, (Jimmy…. but we know it’s you, Greg) his ex-girlfriend Sophie, and troubadour guitarist are unnamed, guest starring in his memories.
The closeness of the audience to the performers worked very well, Fleet sometimes even literally balancing on the edge of reality and remembering. There are real moments of truth and intimacy. Being a comedian, there are also real moments of comedy, and sometimes the three are so well combined that it’s just about perfect.
The raw voices of the performers were apologised for, but I feel that it added to the realness of the piece. When we’re singing along to our favourite song in our living room, we don’t always hit the notes exactly and that’s OK. When you find someone you can sing freely in front of, it’s something you want to hold on to and not let go.
This is not a love song hits home hard. Go see it.
Fringe Review By Carly Whittaker
For tickets and show information to Greg Fleet’s This Is Not A Love Song head to Fringe-Tix.