(Best of the Capital Fringe)
Juggling fire, riding a unicycle, living in a beer tank and eating raw eggs—these are just a few of the stops on The Road to High Street. Andrew Potter’s solo performance about his experiences as a street performer is a warm, informal and amusing divulgence. Potter describes the show as a “one-man live musical digital storytelling show.” He plays guitar, recounts stories of his travels and synchronizes this with various multi-media clips. At the end of the show, I felt as though I had just spent an hour hearing fascinating insights from my favorite American studies professor.
Potter takes the audience on a chronological journey from when he and a friend decided to become street performers to their time traveling internationally. Along the way is a van wallpapered with the Sunday funnies, a punk rock band, a creative attempt to overcome a language barrier and some heartfelt sentiments about family. His stories are intriguing and often hilarious. The overlapping video clips augment Potter’s narration beautifully. Potter runs the technical portion of his show. When he experienced a few slight tech flubs, he smiled, shrugged and incorporated them into the act. He is wholly at ease on stage, and his presence genuinely fills the venue.
The final sequence was very sweet, but it felt out of place with the remainder of the script. Nevertheless, The Road to High Street is a captivating show featuring the voice of a true performer. This is a rare and compelling piece. Although it is a one-man show, Potter focuses on collaboration and celebrates other street performers. Best of all, he makes the audience feel as if they are also part of his atypical and entertaining voyage. Unwind and travel along The Road to High Street.
Running Time: One hour.
The Road to High Street plays through July 27, 2014 at Warehouse – 645 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC. For performance information and to purchase tickets, go to their Capital Fringe Page.
