‘What is grief if not un-monetised content?’
An autobiographical tale. Sam, dressed in shorts and vest, is sat on a small deck. Representing the coast, behind him are swag curtains, with an artist’s easel to one side with six chairs lined up, such as you’d find in a community hall, writes Linda Emmanuel.
His story begins the day he decides to attend Bear Week, a popular festival in Provincetown, a queer haven on the tip of Cape Cod, USA. Upon arrival, he meets Jonathan, an older, attractive man, a “silver zaddy”, a cuddly bear of a man, just his type who, in Sam’s words, ‘spoilt a perfect moment by asking him “to go on a date”’, which isn’t his style at all. He was just looking for a good time. However, after an intense and quick romance, Jonathan invites him to move into his coastal home. Although they had very different tastes; Jonathan loves Liza Minnelli, Sam loves Lizzo! They understood each other, they felt safe in each other’s arms. He equates their relationship to that of seagulls who mate for life.
This ideal romance is short-lived as the pandemic rudely claims Jonathan’s life, leaving Sam bereft, missing the safety he had grown to love. How would he be able to live without him? To help him in his bereavement, it is suggested that grief counselling may be a great help.
Sam describes himself as an anxious, ADHD, asthmatic, Jewish man who loves to talk. At first, though, he didn’t like the idea of sharing this very personal side of his life. He realises the benefits of being in a grief counselling group – he gets a captive audience. During one session, he quips, ‘What is grief if not un-monetised content?’ We become his fellow attendees, gently guided a couple of times by a Ru Paul-sounding group counsellor in the form of a voice-over.
This critically acclaimed one-man comedy show, written and performed by Sam Morrison, is a story of love, grief, loss, and discovery. It’s an absolute hoot, full of pacy, racy, earthy, rascally, and raw anecdotes. Who knew that grief, being the main subject matter, could be as uplifting as this? The perfect timing, sharp observations, along with risqué one-liners, are beautifully crafted into a sixty-minute roller-coaster of storytelling that elicits both laughter and melancholy.
The Underbelly Boulevard Soho is the perfect bijou space. Director Amrou Al-Kadhi and comedian Sam Morrison present a joyful, generous, thoughtful, and, at times, provocative exploration into the effects of grief, not only upon the psyche but also the human form; six months after the death of his lover, Sam is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He wears a blood sugar monitor, which he says keeps him close to Jonathan, and calls it his Sugar Daddy.
Grab your tickets now.
Underbelly Boulevard until April 4th
Booking and full details: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/sugar-daddy/
