The year is 1999: Tamagotchis are all the rage, school projects are stored on floppy disks, and MSN chat is taking off. This is the world of the unpopular Sammy J. Struggling for survival against the Jurassic Park-like school bullies (like the dinosaurs their vision is based on movement), he'd rather stay at home and watch Disney movies and write songs about his teachers. However, when chief bully Wayne pushes him too far, Sammy is forced to take control of his situation with surprising results. It is a hilarious tale of adolescence and nostalgia, complete with an abundance of good old-fashioned FUN. Sammy is instantly likeable with his winning smile and wide eyes, and goes on to demonstrate huge charisma and charm. The very first image of the show is Sammy dressed as a school boy and playing a flute out of tune, before demonstrating how Mozart's Symphony Number 2 can be merged with the theme from The Simpsons. His character describes this as a legend is born, and it is absolutely true; Sammy J is a comic genius. His comic timing is impeccable and he manages to create his adolescent persona perfectly, whilst also providing a vivid sense of all the other characters that are mentioned, yet never seen. The opening flute gag brought much laughter from the full house, and the laughter never really departed, meaning that the short pauses caused by scene or costume changes actually were a welcome relief for my aching cheek muscles. The production also contains several songs, fitting into the vein of quirky American teen musicals such as Zanna Don't. But don't let the term musicalput you off; they are all written specifically from a comic viewpoint and are packed with many a visual joke. Audience favourites were Please Don't Get A Boner as Sammy takes part in his swimming class, and his duet with his Tamagotchi was utterly inspired. Wrapped around all this is Sammy's tremendous personality. You literally do not want to take your eyes or ears off him for a second. He has a real flair for physical comedy as well as character comedy; his romantic scene has made me chuckle for days. It was almost a disappointment when the show came to an end. I would have been quite happy to have stayed and watched the show again immediately. Instead I will have to settle for going back to see his other show, Sammy J In The Forest of Dreams that also plays this summer. If you miss this man, you will regret it. It is an absolutely guaranteed evening of hilarity with the comedy stretching to infinity and beyond. Go see!
