Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Arts Award Magazine / Sally


‘For those of you who have never see me before tonight, you’ll realise that I’m totally insane.’ The one woman show examines truth and sanity in an engaging and interactive performance art style inspired by real conversations with family members. The show starts with maths, adding up the numbers in your date of birth to produce a single digit between one and nine. The rest of the performance explores the significance of these numbers who fascinated Newton, Pythagoras and Elvis Presley, looking at how truth becomes itself determined by how many people believe in it. Apparently, if you’re a number one then you’re a natural born leader, however who knows if this is correct, is it these numbers who tell us who we are, or is it ourselves? Does fate exist or is belief a choice we make?

The show continues, with Stamp exposing how she is ‘the secret love child of Elvis’, with her being adopted and Elvis having faked his own death, telling the story through the medium of comedy, theatre, and film, taking us on a journey of truth discovery. The songstress’ gorgeous voice unravels the narrative, holding her own on stage, she captivates viewers. Whilst Stamp maintains eye contact, making for an awkward yet beautiful naievity.

Highlights include some wicked dancing to ‘Hound Dog’, showing the juvenile nature of Stamp’s character, in addition to the audience participation which is created through a friendly, unintimidating atmosphere. With regard to low points, I truly fail to find any, some may have trouble with the awkward nature to her show, however I feel it was a huge success, contributing to the characterisation,which can be summed up by the quote: ‘so I know what you’re thinking, all of this is delusional.’

The performance was excellent, thought provoking and entertaining. A very well done to Ellie Stamp.