James Willstrop’s publicity picture for Daddy, Will I Be A Man Tomorrow?
JAMES Willstrop thrives on taking centre stage, whether seeking to dominate the international squash court or playing leading man in Yorkshire musical theatre productions.
This, however, is different. This is Willstrop solo, no opponent to beat, no fellow cast members by his side, albeit with musical director Sam Johnson omnipresent on keyboards behind him.
A Fringe solo show is new terrain for Harrogate action man Willstrop, 50 minutes of self-lacerating examination conducted as a training exercise, sweat band on his fevered brow, squash racket in hand, kit bag by his side. And two chairs, as if he is both psychiatrist and patient.
No smashed rackets to report. Instead, in the most adept physical element of his musical monodrama, Willstrop transforms “Push, push” from his gruelling fitness regime into the racket becoming a baby cradled in his arms. Later, when conducting a dad-and-lad chat, the racket serves as his son Logan.
Willstrop conducts multiple conversations in those 50 minutes, sometimes with his late mother, Lesley, sometimes with his wife Vanessa, sometimes with Logan, sometimes with himself, sometimes breaking down theatre’s fourth wall to speak directly with his audience as he asks: “Where’s the solution when two dreams collide?”. Squash champion or putative parent?
The poster for James Willstrop’s York preview of Daddy, Will I Be A Man Tomorrow?
Interestingly, his main opponent here is Willstrop himself, the younger James, the one chasing those dreams of being the world’s number one squash player, and in doing so pushing his relationship with fellow squash player Vanessa to the limit. Likewise, he puts himself in a bad light in regretful reflection on not spending enough time with his ailing mum in his teenage days.
In exploring what success really means and what really matters, there is less joy than you might expect, although Willstrop excels in the show’s comedic moments, especially when multi-role-playing. A psychiatrist would surely tell him he is being too harsh on himself.
Johnson has put the musical flesh on Willstrop’s skeletal, narrative songs, the best being his candid confessional tale of his IVF experiences. The York preview exposed the need for a microphone. Happy to report that James is now using one for Edinurgh Fringe run at The Space @ Niddry Street (Lower).
James Willstrop in Daddy, Tomorrow Will I Be A Man?, Edinburgh Fringe, Venue 9, The Space@Niddry Street (Lower), August 13 to 16, 5.25pm; August 18 to 23, 7.25pm. Box office: 0131 2260000 or edfringe.com. Age guidance: 12 plus.