James & Jamesy: In the Dark
James & Jamesy tackle “Who am I?” philosophy with British wit and uproarious physicality.
May
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5:30 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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5:30 pm
June
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2
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7:15 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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7:15 pm
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3
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2:00 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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2:00 pm
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4
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8:30 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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8:30 pm
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5
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6
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7
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5:30 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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5:30 pm
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8
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8:45 pm James & Jamesy: In the Dark
See https://theatreinlondon.ca/2017/05/james-and-jamesy-in-the-dark-2/ for details.
Location: McManus Stage
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8:45 pm
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By Jay Menard
James & Jamesy are back, returning their In the Dark show to the McManus Theatre. And this remount, with two years of refinement under its belt, shines brighter than ever and will undoubtedly be a clear highlight of the Fringe again.
The duo, who have brought their 2 for Tea and High Tea shows to London Fringe in the past, present a masterclass in simplicity, elegance, and comedic refinement, that’s only amplified by its sweetness and warmth.
The story, basically, is about a he and a he, toiling away in individuality, until the he and he suddenly become a they. They are joined by us. And then we all become a we in the now. A now we’ll always have, even if we aren’t always a we.
It makes sense when you see it.
The stage, such as it is, is sparsely set, with nothing more than a pair of chairs, a black backdrop, and the two principles — all dressed matching grey suits, white facepaint… and, of course, giant lamps on their heads.
The stage is set by setting the stage (again, it’ll make sense when you see it), but the true entertainment is in the subtlety. At times reminiscent of the vocal and artistic style of La Linea, whilst other times channelling the best of Abbott and Costello, the duo perform physical and linguistic gymnastics that are at once wonderfully subtle and intricately complex.
Just the simple movement of a finger is enough to entrance the audience and elicit peals of laughter.
James & Jamesy in the Dark is a shining example of everything that’s right about Fringe. Don’t miss it.
CBC Review – ★★★★★
Are you still in the dark about why James & Jamesy are one of the most popular Fringe duos ever? Better snap up tickets now. Trust me, you’ll see the light.
These guys are maestros at making theatre magic with the simplest of elements. It’s like watching two big imaginative kids in a tent with flashlights, as they bring to life a whole world and invite you to step inside.
The eight-year-old girl in front of me giggled in delight for the whole hour. Yet the simple and repetitive dialogue packs layers of meaning. Think Abbott and Costello with a hint of Samuel Beckett.
They may be big kids, but James & Jamesy are exploring big questions about the role of the artist and the power of creation. And they’re breaking down the fourth wall so you can be part of the fun. It’s an unforgettable Fringe experience. Don’t miss it.
London Free Press Review – ★★★★★
HILARIOUS THEATRE WITH FEARLESS PLAYERS
There are two kinds of playgrounds in this world. There’s the one everyone knows where children do the things children do — climb, run, jump, laugh, pretend and imagine. Then there’s the playground that James & Jamesy occupy.
The Vancouver duo of Aaron Malkin (James) and Alastair Knowles (Jamesy) have returned to London for their third visit to London Fringe, this time offering up the world premiere of what undoubtedly will become their newest hit, James & Jamesy In The Dark, on at the Grand Theatre’s McManus Studio. A near full house cheered when the show ended, many in the house stunned but still laughing, uncertain of what had just happened over the previous 60 minutes.
With In The Dark, Malkin and Knowles — in collaboration with David MacMurray Smith — have reached new heights of ridiculousness, silliness, absurdity, fun and courage. Again they smashed through the fourth wall separating performer and audience, effortlessly convincing an audience of a hundred or so to get involved in their games.
Few performers depend so heavily on audience participation where not even these two well-trained clowns know what’s going to happen next, where improvisation is critical to their success.
To try and describe what happened is nearly impossible. The show opens in dramatic fashion with racing beams of light (think Star Trek transporter), the voices of the two alternately yelling “Ready!” with increasing speed until at some point they are both on stage, each with a chair wearing lamps on their heads.
Then it begins and I’m not sure how it gets from there to the end, but it’s a hilarious ride just listening to their banter and watching their physicality.
James & Jamesy’s productions are shows that I — along with many others fans of the Fringe circuit — eagerly await each and every year. Why? Because it’s a time when we can just let our guards down and simply play along with James & Jamesy.
This show focuses on the repetition of the James’ daily tasks — setting up “the stage”, which we can assume has taken place forever up until this point.
You can approach the show in two ways: contentedly turning your brain off and giggling along with the hijinks, or explore a bit deeper by listening to the complexity of the words of discovery of their new shared world.
This is an hour of pure joy, wonderment, and awkward amazement. This is a show for children and adults alike. Let your inner kid come out and play with James & Jamesy in the Dark.