Each of Us at Tristan Bates Theatre

Ben Moor’s comedy is extremely wired, witty and unique. In his tender-hearted one-man show Each of Us, his 11^th show since his debut It Takes Forever If You Go by Inertia in 1993, he leads us through the highlights of his life narrative, which consists of offices, canteens, football matches, dates, marriage, love, friendship…just about everything you’d expect from an average young male Londoner.

Except Moor’s narrative is far from what you’d expect. In fact, based on the theory of Newton’s third law, Moor occupies himself with living almost in an anti-world, favouring the negative space and opposite forces over the regular straight and narrow of modern life. Starring Olops (the small minty candies that come from the centre of Polos), manager insultance (where insults are delivered out, anonymously, to employees), David Lynch directed football scoreboards and Incomprehensible Art shows, Moor’s backward humour is refreshing and optimistic, turning the simple monotonous acts of everyday life into little, individual highs.

Malcolm Rippeth’s lighting design and the digitally reprinted backdrop of Kerry Brewer’s Beehive provide a softness to the show’s substance, creating the perfect environment for Moor’s charming energy. While his humour spilled out with this energy, the show was unashamedly tender and soft in places, yet the careful control with which Moor deals with these more emotional parts retained the show’s authenticity; not overdone and perfectly timed are Moor’s more outstanding qualities.

While the natural, raw element of Each of Us was soothing for the soul, in places it was an effort to stay attuned to this guy’s life story. Only in glimpses, however, did the egotism get a bit much, for Moor’s use of facial and bodily expression is so animated, yet gentle, that you begin to befriend this guy in your heart, and feel that particular special comfort gained from shared experience and understanding.

Alex Finch

Each of Us is currently touring London. For further information or to book visit here.