REVIEW: Sometimes when we touch – James Graham’s The Man is a triumph

The Man is the sum of their memories, so much so that when it comes to the annual chore of the tax return, old receipts are vital memory triggers. 

James Graham’s play is a one-man show focusing on the intricacies of life’s moments from the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Over 70 minutes, and before audiences arrive, Ben Lewis is on stage offering a compelling performance that draws you into his world. It’s a complicated one, and he is nothing but honest as he seeks to recall what happened in his life over the past 12 months. 

Failed relationships, funerals and a family tragedy, plus some dance steps, are all recreated by his animated and engaging performance. A natural storyteller, you laugh and cry along with him as the foibles of human life are teased, tugged and tested. 

His expressive face, graceful movements and impressive stage presence add up to an impressive and immersive monologue that sees him break the fourth wall to share his truth. 

And while he is talking by himself, it always feels like a warm conversation between us, with the audience a silent partner. That takes some skill to achieve, so Ben deserves every praise for this terrific showcase of his talents. 

The Man uses receipts to tell the story of Ben’s life over 12 months. As the audience entered the auditorium of South Street, they were given a randomly selected ticket detailing a purchase: a suit, train tickets, food orders, pints … each one has its own story. 

MORE CHEESELOGS: Don’t miss our interview with Ben Lewis

Ben chooses them at random so every performance is different, and he has had to memorise a vast swathe of options. The challenge is not only to cope with the myriad selections but to weave them together so that the action doesn’t lag. 

So adept at this is Ben that audiences will not be able to see the join as he segues from one tale to the next. Many will think that the order has been pre-selected, such is the way Ben’s tale is told but that is not the case. 

Impressive. 

While this is a one-man show, there are some calls with The Man: except these Inland Revenue workers are both women, Lisa White and Holly Alexander feature in cameos that have been filmed in advance. 

And here lies another skill for Ben. He ensures his acting matches the video being streamed in. There is no leeway for a fluff, so the pressure to make these scenes feel natural must be immense. 

The show is set in 2010, which feels like yesterday, but is also starting to be another country. At the time, tax returns were mostly filed on paper rather than electronically. Ben lives in a forward-looking home, as his calls to HMRC were made not on a landline, but on an early iPhone (top-of-the-range then was version 4, the first with Retina Display and FaceTime). His computer was not one of those big boxes that came with a monitor that required the Strongest Man in the World to lift, but a laptop. 

The sparse set reveals that he is a man of taste, with fashionable furniture giving further insight into the life of this Londoner. 

The Man is a play about connections. The receipts may seem benign, but each is a touchstone to a powerful memory and acts as a form of therapy and closure for different stages of Ben’s life. 

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be on hold to the taxman. An emotionally tight performance, superbly directed by Matthew Whitelock, means this is an unmissable show. 

How to get tickets to see The Man

James Graham’s The Man, starring Ben Lewis and directed by Matthew Whitelock, is performed at South Street Arts Centre on Friday, July 4. Curtain up is at 8pm, and the play is 70 minutes with no interval. 

Tickets cost £20 per person or £18 for unwaged. 

They can be bought by calling the Reading Arts box office on 0118 960 6060, or by logging on to https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/whats-on/man-james-graham