all aboard for some comedy home truths
Caroline McEvoy’s show “Train Man” is named after her brother Jonathan, and his love of trains, but covers so much more in this thoughtful and funny hour.
We’re taken through her life growing up in Bangor (and why that makes her a brave girl) and experiences in all-girls schools, being the eldest daughter, Disney princesses, and the disruptive arrival of her baby brother when she was three. We also touch on her family’s values, sexuality, moving to London and her partner, and an appraisal of her dad.
Although this isn’t a full-on musical comedy, there are the occasional very funny song verses – the reflection on there being no Northern Irish Disney princesses leads to a Little Mermaid parody which has a killer punchline, as well as a pondering about the colour of her balaclava.
This is all told with convivial and chatty air, which is all very pleasant and good fun, but the heart of the show is understandably, her relationship with Jonathan, her brother who has autism, and the challenges this has meant for her (and for him) trying to navigate in the world. This is centred in deep affection and carefully crafted, so we never feel we’re laughing at Jonathan, but we’re definitely laughing at the description of the situations that have arisen, especially hide and seek in the transport museum, and at some of the comparisons between the two of them.
We gain some needed fire as we reach the climax of the show – with Caroline railing against the injustices experienced by Jonathan, including false hopes, and the lack of awareness from the general public. She does a lovely job of highlighting the significance of the sunflower lanyard as a bit of an additional PSA too, and adds a note of reality about the future, which helps steer the message away from being twee, whilst still celebrating his accomplishments.
This is a well-constructed show (which is perhaps to be expected with someone with such organisational skills), as well as having some deeply funny moments, and there’s lots to appeal to a broad audience range, going beyond a tale of sibling rivalry.
“Caroline McEvoy: Train Man” runs to 25 August, at 13:20 at Roxyboxy @ Assembly Roxy. Tickets can be bought from: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/caroline-mcevoy-train-man
“Train Man” then appears at the Dublin Fringe Festival from 9 – 14 September. Find more details at: https://www.fringefest.com/festival/whats-on/train-man