The fact that I have never given a 5 star review before to a show which played out to an audience of two people is testament to the strength of this one-woman show delivered by Jennifer Jane who could easily have cancelled the show, or sent us back to come and see her performance on another occasion. For the record myself and the other spectator left the decision totally in the hands of Jennifer and she was very keen to deliver exactly what she would have done had the venue been packed with punters, so fair play to her for that, and what was also impressive was that there was no hint at all of her “going through the motions” with an autopilot show.
Every line of this incredible story was brought to life vividly with Jennifer’s extraordinary ability to pain crystal clear images. The title of the show, Happy Tea, arguably was not the biggest selling point for this, because it certainly doesn’t really jump out at anyone – I think something more related to the story would have been a better option … something like “Electric Bear” or a title which would be more relevant to the subject matter.
In a nutshell, the synopsis itself is nothing short of remarkable. It’s a true story too which is hard to believe but it really did happen. Jennifer really did have a boyfriend who cheated on her eight times. She left him and that should have been the end of the story. But a call out of the blue gave her the devastating news that her ex was in critical condition having been electrocuted by a bear which had bitten into an underground electric cable.
Rather than walk away she decided to get on a plane and rush to the hospital where she became his full time carer for many many months. What happened next was a rollercoaster ride which you could not imagine. Jennifer, with permission from her ex, tells the full story and leaves nothing out. The extent of the injuries is covered in graphic detail and may be too difficult to stomach for some people. The story itself was turned into an Amazon documentary special but hearing her tell all in this room at the Fringe was an incredible experience and as rivetting as it gets. There are so many twists and turns and a very dramatic ending.
Jennifer has accidentally become a superb storyteller with a flair for writing and delivering words with a sharp comedic wit which is a joy to listen to. It’s a very honest and at times very intimate story and she leaves nothing out. I find it a tragedy that such an incredible piece of work has not found its audience yet at the Fringe – but either by the end of its run, or next year, with a more dramatic title and poster, this should go on to become a sleeping giant. Outstanding!
