Instantly relatable for anyone who has worked a survival job
When you think of a job involving dealing with blood, sweat, tears, or vomit, ushering at a theatre doesn’t usually spring to mind. But as anyone who has worked Front of House can attest, the drama doesn’t always happen onstage.
Kaci Kerwick’s exploration of what has brought her to her ushering job at a large West End theatre is instantly relatable for anyone who has worked a survival job. Kerwick welcomes us into the space with an unwieldy ice cream tray around her neck; checking tickets and asking us politely to silence our phones without her smile wavering. Once the lights (commanded by Tonio Rogers) go down though, we get to see behind the mask.
Kerwick has got fantastic comedic chops – her timing and delivery of razor-sharp observations under Issy Collingwood’s direction is commendable. Kerwick does well, too, to switch expertly between the witty tirades and the more vulnerable parts of the piece. Her working-class Irish identity – and the comments that middle-class English theatregoers have made about it – are expertly woven in.
This is where I wish the show had lingered more; only about halfway through did we get to see the emotional heart of the piece. Kerwick’s discussion of sacrifice and determination is compelling, and without enough time spent on on it, the show felt slightly like an extended rant with not much conclusion. And someday – at least with Kerwick’s acting ability – I hope the conclusion is that she is on stage, rather than watching it from an uncomfortable usher seat.