Weak Sauce - Simple and Honest

Comedy, Monologue

I was worried about weak sauce for the first 10 minutes.  I was wrong. Weak Sauce is a simple solo show about a young man’s coming of age and all that comes along with that. 

Away to be a summer camp leader in Guelph, a sixteen year old boy faces his nemesis the charming British David Oliver, his first love Amanda, frst kiss, betrayal, baboons and a school bus, the first condom buy, virginity and the lies we tell to look cool.   

There are many reasons why this piece should not have worked.  The majority of the text is in the past-tense making it far more difficult for both the performer and audience to tap into the vital part of theatre a presence with an undetermined outcome.  The characterisations are not much more than accent changes maintaining the same energy and mannerisms throughout and the story telling is peppered with buts and likes.

But it works and it works well.  Primarily because performer Sam Mullins is true to himself.  In the very intimate setting of the Havana Theatre, he wanders the stage more like a stand-up comedian than an actor and sharing, I believe, a very personal story.  He speaks directly to us in a real relationship, disengaging in embarrassment and coming back directly when making a point.  Mullins is grappling with and sorting through real memories with us and is unafraid to show himself sometimes as bit of a dick.  He is awkward, shy, angry, nervous, neurotic, thrilled, etc – somehow managing to be pretentious and unpretentious at the same time - actively dealing and trying to sort out these memories as they come up.

There was an audible gasp from the audience as “the kiss” was accomplished and “oh nos” as people got a little ahead of the story.  It helps that there is some very funny writing here dealing with those firsts that are familiar to anybody who has been a teenager. The teenage buy of the Trojan Variety Pack when overwhelmed by the choices on that terrifying first condom shop, that desperate inner monologue as you try to tell or not tell someone you love them for the first time or those uncomfortable conversations you have with someone you hate because they are cooler than you.

This is a simple and honest conversation with the audience that by dealing with specific personal incidents succeeds in concluding with something quite touching about the nature of love and growing up.  If you are looking for a date night this Fringe – this might be your show.

By John Jack Paterson