Matthew Collins is a travel journalist and single parent, although not necessarily in that order. The title of his show is possibly misleading, as these are just two of the subjects he touches on during his 50 minute monologue at Sweet Grassmarket.
Collins is an engaging speaker, and he tells some witty anecdotes, but I can't help thinking it's all a little insubstantial to call it a show. Staging wise, it looked like someone had thrown a white sheet up at the end of the room onto which he projects the occasional video clip. It's a bit like watching somebody else's holiday snaps, and paying to do so.
The majority of the ground he covers is to do with holidays in America, where he has taken his two boys on several road trips, and whilst there, they have made a tidy sum busking. For reasons not fully explained, Collins found the need to take a Nanny with him to look after him and the boys, which seemed a little at odds with the spendthrift message of this show. I grew up in a paternal single parent family myself, and my father didn't seem to have much problem taking my sister and I on holiday without the need for assistance. It painted a picture of middle class poverty that I can't say I had an awful lot of sympathy for.
His flyer states any proceeds will go towards a holiday for the exploited Collins boys. Not a fund I'm particularly keen to donate to.
