What I liked
Very low key and intimate. Could’ve been emotionally manipulative with the same material, to try to reach for some kind of “heightened drama” – but instead, Tom Ayers take a super casual approach. The whole thing is like a road trip with a close friend.
What I didn't like
With a bigger budget, he could’ve added some more in the way of sets, lighting, etc. to be more visually immersive. I dunno – I didn’t feel like I was missing that. But I guess that could take the piece to a new level if he continues it past the Fringe Festival.
My overall impression
An amazing one-man show. On the face of it, Act Normal is just a conversation. A guy telling you about his life. But as it progresses, you get to know Tom Ayers in a way that cuts past the “funny quirky standup comic” to this surreal sense of the thing we all have in common – the sort of fragile sense of how we’re as alive as we decide to be. This show was silly and deep at the same time. Haunting and reassuring at the same time. Ayers makes you laugh out loud every few minutes, but I could see that everyone in the audience (not just me) left the theater in a weirdly introspective state. If you’re looking for a one-hour reset of your psyche – to smooth out the various things in your life that are weighing on you more than they need to – and have just a fun good time along the way, I recommend this show.
