Demi Adejuyigbe has promised big things for his debut Fringe show, Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip at Pleasance Courtyard: original songs, presentations, bits and the aforementioned single backflip.
Charismatic stage presence
Why the backflip? To impress his crush, of course, who happens to be on her way, so the writer of The Good Place will save the backflip for when she arrives, which helpfully coincides with the culmination of the hour. Until then, Adejuyigbe keeps us entertained on a silly ride that really highlights his beginnings on Vine.
We sing along to an updated version of Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire which he’s
replaced with current events. There’s a proposal to ‘modernise’ racism with new stereotypes;
and we are introduced to a hostile robot sidekick.
There is also a musical dedicated to the ‘IKEA monkey’ and a phone call from Colin Meloy of
The Decemberists, which has most people in hysterics but there are some bemused faces (mine included). If you’re not as permanently online or pop culturally attuned as Adejuyigbe, not all of the jokes hit if you’re unfamiliar with the references.
However, there are enough well-written bits and misdirections to enjoy the show,
undoubtedly helped by Adejuyigbe’s charismatic stage presence and direction by sketch duo
BriTANick. And, naturally, the backflip...
