Jack Heal’s Murderthon is as ecstatically funny as the man himself. Billed as Spoken Word Murderthon could equally be described as a comedy or theatre piece just as Heal could be described as a poet, a comedian and a performer. This is the wonder of Heal, extremely versatile and acutely intelligent he has a clear talent for entertaining and with humour and a strong command of the English Language will draw you into an easy hour of escapist story telling.
Situated in an intimate room in the Banshee Labyrinth Heal was in such close proximity with his audience there was no room for nerves or flaws. With an assured and easy manner he explained that he was going to make a show about trains and while on a train conducting research for the show he found a diary belonging to someone by the name of Giles Browntree. What followed was Heal’s attempt to present Browntree’s diary. His language is sharp and witty with a joke always around every corner. With acute and rhythmic storytelling he unfolded a story, in which he is both narrator and character, about the life of a man attempting to decipher who has been sending him death threats.
As well as words there are also inspired moments of what Heal calls G.C.S.E. drama - hilarious over the top gesture and mime which served to demonstrate his abilities as a visual as well as verbal story teller.
A mobius strip of a performance there is no ordinary narrative about this story; it is a chance to marvel in the power of words and the complexity of the imagination. Please see this show. It is free and funny and after a long day at the Fringe is exactly what you need.
