I Found My Horn at Trafalgar Studios
- emilylouisehardy
- Apr 4, 2014
- 2 min read
By Amy Stow
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when walking into the theatre for this one-man show. I knew that it featured Jonathan Guy Lewis as the central figure Jasper Rees and that the play is based on Rees’ life-story-turned-book. I knew it had something to do with a middle-aged man going through a divorce and a subsequent mid-life crisis. I hoped that the title was actually a filthy euphemism, and therefore the show would be a rather cheeky – even faintly shocking – account of how a middle-aged man got back ‘in the saddle’ and rediscovered, how shall we put it, his erm...horn. Not so.
I Found My Horn really is about a man unearthing his forgotten French horn, abandoned for 31 years after a mortifying experience playing at a concert as an adolescent. Having found his (literal) horn, this man – Jasper – embarks on a journey to rekindle his playing prowess and conquer those fears that held him back as a moody teen. It’s a touching story, and the peppering of musical gags will no doubt tickle musos and grannies alike; unfortunately, what remains for the rest of us is a barrage of ‘dad’ jokes, slapstick gags and grotesque caricatures that feel rather patronising to an audience that really does want to care for, and relate to, this man. It’s a real shame, actually. The energy and enthusiasm of Lewis as he creates and enacts different characters is admirable – anyone can see that he is really working hard indeed. The storyline also has the potential to be inspiring, stirring audience members young and old to take risks and overcome adversity.
Unfortunately, the script is not constructed to help a viewer truly connect with Jasper’s journey. Lewis’ portrayal of Jasper himself is also rather caricatured (dad, the good guy, a self-doubting hero – take your pick) and doesn’t quite capture the humility and honesty that should provide the backbone to a story like this. We should want to cry for this man, save this man - not slap this man. Harsh, but true.
Nevertheless there are some saving graces, which may render this production a success with some. Lewis’ horn-playing skills are quite frankly amazing – a gifted player, with expert fingering skills (I at least expected a wee wink with lines like that being delivered, but sadly, no) – treating the audience to excellent renditions (to my musically-challenged ears, anyway) of various Wagner, Strauss and Mozart classics. The set is apt and fairly minimal – a non-descript backdrop that easily enables Lewis to transport the audience to different locations. And, despite the gross caricatures, Lewis’ impression of his old music teacher, Mr. Ligament, is hilarious. On the whole, however, the script could benefit from tweaking, to enhance the realism of Jasper’s journey, and, crucially, to avoid insulting the audience’s intelligence by candy-flossing those issues and events that have the potential to be very dark – and extremely amusing.
LISTINGS DETAILS
Venue: Jermyn Street Theatre, 14 Whitehall, SW1A 2DY.
Tel: 0844 871 7627
Dates + times: Until 29th April 2014 7.45pm
Thu-Sat + 3.00pm
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