Review by Dev Marr
60 minutes in program – 50 minutes actual run time / Comedy / PG
What Happens Now? isn’t your usual Fringe show. Yes, it’s a one man show, in the Arts Court Library, with a barebones tech set up. The difference is Andrew Chapman’s life story and quirky insights are told through a fifty minute stand-up comedy routine. So there’s your warning. If you go to What Happens Now? expecting deep insightful theatre that delves into the meaning of life, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you go to What Happens Now? looking for upbeat, intelligent, and witty commentary on the little things in life, then you’ll be in for a fun time.
Chapman does a good job of keeping the audience engaged. Whether it’s the not-so-rhetorical questions about which is better, the phrase ‘I love you’ or ‘all-day breakfast,’ or his musings on the origins of the common house cat, Chapman is a lively performer. With a nice balance of self-deprecating humour, and a touch of narcissism, Chapman reminded me of the comedian Eddie Izzard but without the high heels and dress. For the most part the jokes are clean, the commentary is intelligent, and most importantly, it’s funny.
It’s difficult to critique the plot and story arc of this production, because quite frankly it didn’t really have one. While Chapman does enlighten the audience about his perilous journey from Toronto, and the disproportionate amount of obese respiratory therapists who fly Porter, the play offers little in the way of a story line. He is certainly an entertaining story teller but What Happens Now? is no epic saga. It is a fun, quick act for those looking to shake off the blues. The subject matter, while predominantly clean, is clearly geared for the twenty plus demographic so I’d suggest leaving the kids at home. So bring a friend, the family, or a date if you are so brave and listen to Andrew Chapman tell you, What Happens Now?
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