The modern world places a heavy emphasis on communication; most people would not be caught dead without their mobile phone on them for fear of missing out on a call from a friend or colleague. Yet while we live in a time where we as a population are more accessible to each other than ever, we are simultaneously more disconnected from each other than we ever have been, favoring digital relationships over genuine human interactions. The basis of Mark Watson’s show explores what it means to be in this age together, just trying to find some comfort in each others' eccentricities and muddle through these confusing times together.
Initially starting his career with Fringe shows, Watson has been delivering stand-up for almost 20 years now. Hitting the public eye around 2005 by winning the Best Newcomer Perrier Prize and in recent years appearing on “Taskmaster” (Dave) and Bear Grylls “Celebrity Island”. Some might recognize him as that Welsh comedian who always sounds a bit nervous! In truth however, Watson hails from Bristol and simply used to perform with a Welsh accent in order to ease his nerves, finding his sets went much smoother if he performed in a voice he didn’t recognize as his own. Recent shows however would be delivered in his native Bristolian voice as he has simultaneously become more comfortable with his own performance and eager to be as honest with his audiences as possible.
Upon entering the theatre, we were handed a small slip of paper and a pen, which asked us to write an unusual trait, opinion or feature of our own on it. After doing this we handed it back to the steward and made our way in to the stalls. The Epstein is a reasonably sized theatre and as Watson himself noted later in the show, is a perfect size for his type of audience; cozy yet not cramped. Projected on to the stage backdrop were a collage of cards similar to the ones we'd just filled out, popping in and out of the screen until the lights went dark and Watson made his way on to the stage. Carrying a handful of the slips we completed on the way in, he placed them on the floor and dived straight in to the set.
Watson delivered his set with an endearingly nervous energy, although at no point did he ever come across as lacking confidence. Within the first minute a heckle was thrown from an audience member at the back of the room and Watson caught it, and threw it straight back without malice, but more like a game for himself. Slightly hunching over the mic at the start, his tension melted over the course of the first act as he developed a feel for the crowd and eased in to his own set, his voice playing more effectively with volume and intensity once he realized the audience has warmed up to his style.
The show itself deals primarily with the concept of human connection. From familial ties to friendships, Watson discusses what it means for him to have been left alone (on the back of a recent divorce) to rebuilding his image of himself, coping with his expectations for himself as both a father and a public figure. Between stories following his own life experiences, Mark occasionally referred to the cards handed in at the start, reading out the content and riffing with the relevant audience member. It should be noted though that it never felt like Watson was singling out the individual, but just genuinely curious to find out more about their quirk or opinion, opening up a dialogue with the crowd that felt more like chatting with your friends at the pub than being at a stand up show.
Overall, Watson puts on a truly enjoyable show that pulls the audience in ways that you rarely find nowadays. A chatty presentation with a slightly skittish demeanor makes for a very comfortable two act set which lets the almost 2 hours it occupies fly by. I would thoroughly recommend catching this show while its touring, as Liverpool is only the 16th stop in an 81 venue run.
Reviewer - Lewis Joyce
on - 3/2/19
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