Stuart Laws Is Stuck
The Free Association, Southwark, London
May 28-30
Review by Catherine Usher
This two-hander show, which combines comedy and theatre, is an entertaining 60-minute exploration of Stuart Laws’ time as a caretaker on an isolated island full of puffins. Drawing closely on his own implied experience of autism, Laws describes a puffin as the most autistic kind of bird, who eats the same thing repeatedly, exhibits masking behaviour and hides itself away, safe from the elements and noise outside.
Kate Hammer plays a number of puffins who Laws interacts with (he can talk to puffins) and the way her personality contrasts with his is a real joy to watch. She has the grounded, street smart, almost confrontational comedy of someone like Ruby Wax, while he is all awkwardness, hesitancy and subtlety.
The message about the show, “if you think you got it, you didn’t”, is thought-provoking indeed. It seems to be commenting on how neurodivergent people exist in the world and the challenges they face trying to fit in. Perhaps!
For all its multilayered brilliance, Stuart Laws Is Stuck certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste. In the same way that some viewers found the realistic awkwardness of The Office a turn-off, for those who want their laughs served up to them simply and directly, this type of performance could be a source of irritation. But it really does chime with certain audience members – you can feel the energy from those who are really connecting with it.
It’s also the type of show that would benefit from multiple viewings. Once you know what route the story is going to take, there will no doubt be plenty of elements you may have initially missed that you would pick up on second time around.
For now, we can only ponder on it. The show has ended its run at the achingly cool venue, The Free Association, so keep an eye on his website for new tour dates. He will also be appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe in Late Night With Stuart Laws during August.
