Josie Long - Romance & Adventure // The Playhouse, 13.10.12
Josie Long's Romance & Adventure tour hits Norwich Playhouse
Having seen Josie Long several times before, and become enamoured with her happy go lucky, joyful and positive approach to life and learning, I was very excited to see her again here in Norwich. The Playhouse was not quite full but nearly. Support came from a folk singer called Grace who had a beautiful voice belying her tiny stature, singing songs about the government as well as torment-filled love songs. It was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience who, at the same time, seemed slightly confused at such a departure from a usual Josie Long show. Still, we clapped dutifully and enjoyed her songs nonetheless.
After the interval Josie came in, in her usual relaxed clothes and her 'I'm just one of you' attitude that is so winning and so attractive. She has so little arrogance and so little ego that you feel she could be your funny friend who you see down the pub. However, this time around, it becomes apparant that she has suffered some sort of crisis of confidence a couple of years ago (she suggests a relationship breakdown) and as a result has become every unhappy with her life and disillusioned about the world in general. She grew interested in politics and the government and this seems to have been her main focus in the subsequent years. The comedy piece she performs is centered very heavily on her outrage and fury at the government's behaviour, and she focuses on a couple politicians in particular.
At times she is funny, the normal Josie Long we know and love, describing her look as 'Norweigan Boy' or describing her odd neighbours, talking about books she has enjoyed, etc. She also talks about stuff she has been told she should do before she's 30, which for me constituted the funniest part of the show as it was something we could all relate to. I felt it really was not the right time, place or audience to rant and rave regarding politics, which is a very personal issue. There was a whiff of the ex-smoker speaking to the smoker feeling about the evening; as if she has got into this subject and so we must all also care as much as she does. To see her so angry and bitter made me very sad indeed. In the past she has been so incredibly passionate, enthusiastic and alive on stage, talking about outer space, academic subjects or even love itself. This time, I felt that she had let the thing which she is currently interested become her show, rather than think carefully about whether it would entertain everyone who might come and see it. Not everyone is interested in politics. Not everyone who IS interested in politics wishes to spend money on watching someone be angry about it when we had gone to see her to be made happier, to be inspired, to have our lives lightened. I will go see her again but maybe next time she should be a little more honest about what her show will entail in advance so we know what to expect. The audience felt to me to be bemused by her performance, and a little disappointed overall.
