The romantic comedy gets a queer spin in Confetti from writer and performer Will Jackson who brings this one man show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Assembly. A vibrant performance from Jackson underpins the production, whilst there’s some well-pitched humour that will appeal to a diverse range of Fringe audiences.
Uptight Felix has been tasked with serving as Bride’s Mate at his best friend Helen’s wedding. Felix’s first task is organising the hen do, yet things take an unexpected turn as the often unlucky in-love bachelor sparks a whirlwind romance with an unexpected member of the wedding party. Navigating an intense new romance, working in a fast paced events management job, and dealing with wedding centred catastrophes begin to dominate Felix’s time resulting in some haphazard consequences.
Jackson does an impressive job at welcoming the audience into the fold from the early moments. There’s a frenetic energy as the highly-strung Bride’s Mate welcomes us in, instructing us to prepare our party hats given in a pre-prepared party bag. Inside you’ll also find a party popper and miniature torch utilised throughout the production in a number of fun, immersive ways. From these early moments, Jackson is operating at full-speed – an impressive stage presence who manages to capture Felix’s sass and humour yet also able to inject some nuanced heart and soul into the character as the narrative proceeds.
The narrative sees Felix fighting against continual wedding catastrophes with the threat of an overpowering storm lingering over Helen’s outdoor wedding. Jackson manages to find humour in scenes of farcical chaos that ensue in the run-up to the wedding including his trainee’s decapitation of an ice sculpture swan, preparing a high-octane Eurovision dance routine (featuring Little Big’s Uno for Contest fans) or the dreamy excitement of his first formal date with his new man. Confetti is filled with small humorous touches that ensure it is a breezy, absorbing comic watch and we are in undeniably safe hands with Will Jackson.
Whilst there is an enjoyment in seeing a rom-com with a queer slant, Confetti nonetheless does fall victim to the clichés of the genre. There’s a certain familiarity in Felix’s too good to be true romance or the wedding gradually being consumed by chaotic factors. Felix’s car crash wedding speech and disillusionment in the world of love sees Confetti further fall into traditional rom-com territory.
Confetti is a breezy and enjoyable trip round some expected, familiar territory of the romantic-comedy genre. Nonetheless, Will Jackson’s strong, well-pitched comic performance ensures there are many laughs to be had throughout.
Confetti runs as part of the Assembly Festival at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe. Get your tickets here.
Lead photo: Emma Jones