How many stupid jobs did it take for Rory Marshall to come to a new level of peace with his artistic life? Too many and not enough.
The depressive suckiness of part-time jobs seems to be a real theme at the Fringe this year. Rory Marshall’s latest stand-up hour Thank You for the Opportunity adds a ripe bunch more to the list. But also brilliantly defends their suckiness. It’s certainly something to watch.
Directed by Alex Cartlidge (SNL UK) and Will Farrell, Thank You For The Opportunity begins with a bang and doesn’t slow down. In a series of rapid-fire mini skits, Marshall brings to life an epic array of different versions of himself working different jobs – a waiter, a club bouncer, a surf instructor. The list goes on. And on.
For an actor and writer with predominantly screen experience, Marshall does put it all on the table for his second scripted comedy show at the Fringe. It’s possible, however, that he’s a bit too aggressive in doing so.
There’s an uncomfortable intensity about Marshall’s performance that suits the repressed desperation of the piece brilliantly but also could have used some leveling out for a more theatre-friendly experience. For one, the man doesn’t need a microphone. I truly thought my ears would fall off for all of his explosiveness, but I did manage to get used to it by around his fifth job.
What Marshall’s jokes thrive on is his ability to swap the mundane for the absurd in a flash. While the audience is busy trying to guess what the heck kind of job involves snorting cocaine and chatting mindlessly about how awesome Glastonbury is, he’s already ten steps ahead, pathetically promoting the most inauthentic Italian restaurant, doing a very unsafe job of teaching people how to surf, and serving people olives at a funeral while networking for his next job.
While some of these quick about-faces worked brilliantly, there were an uncomfortable number that did not. This was due largely to a seemingly self-imposed need for speed. The best parts were those in which Marshall slowed down enough for our imaginations to fill in the blanks. More importantly, in these slower moments, we were also able to see his genuine responses to these ridiculous situations. Instead, when he resorted to his breakneck default speed, he assumed a kind of forced comedic mask that was hard to relate to or follow. When he did slow down and relish certain moments or characters, it was palpable that he was fully enjoying the performance and present with us. For the audience, it was immediately mesmerizing. When he brings his third show to the Fringe (which I’m sure he will), I hope he also brings more of this slower, steadier, and more vulnerable energy – it suits him well and, more importantly, makes for some great comedy.
Show Listing: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rory-marshall-thank-you-for-the-opportunity
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Beside
Dates: Aug 5th -30th
Time: 18:05
Ticket prices: £15.50/ concession: £14.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / http://www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 14+