Maxwell Golden’s one-man show tells the story of Michael, aka Country Boy. A Cornwall lad with a charming innocence, Michael moves to London to seek a career in the challenging world of hip-hop.
Golden’s solo acting skills are to be commended. He kept things clear, sharp, slick, and very funny. His talent for rap is so good I couldn’t help but wonder how autobiographical the piece was. His lyrics were comic, insightful, and varied.
A personal highlight was Golden’s introduction to London through rap personification of various elements: a squawking neck-moving pigeon; a cockney road sweeper; and Big Ben striking twelve as he worriedly counts the dongs on his fingers. His serious descriptions of Hackney were poetic and realistic. Being a Londoner, the show spoke to me as it articulated many thoughts I already had, both good and bad, about my city. The rest of the audience laughed just us much as I did though, as his speech was comic and interesting whether you knew London or not.
Assuming not all of the audience were hardcore hip hop fans, I can safely say that Golden made the subject accessible to all. The show was fresh, fun, and just perfect; I wouldn’t change a thing about it. This country boy should certainly have no struggle in the future!
