In these straitened economic times, one person shows have become ever more popular, but come with their own particular set of obstacles and challenges.
The normal duration of such an individualistic show is around 60 minutes. This is a long time for one performer to stand in front of an audience and continue to hold their interest and attention, especially as, in this case, the performer is engaged in telling a rather convoluted tale with a multitude of characters, accents and movement.
Will Hartley bearded and bluff, just as a pirate should look, rises to this challenge effortlessly, and treats his audience to a high energy, rumbustious show which rattles along, and is never less than entertaining.
Cutlass is a one-man pirate adventure show, detailing the story of pirate Captain Jack Springsmile.
When we first encounter Jack, he is at a relatively low ebb, confined in a gibbet on board Admiral Spottiswood’s Royal Naval vessel, and expected to hang in the morning.
Over the following hour, we look back at Jack’s life and career and follow the narrative which has brought him to his current desperate situation. Jack’s backstory shows us that he is a resourceful and wily fellow, and it comes as no surprise that he has plans to cheat the hangman’s noose and somehow continue his escapades.
Jack is out for revenge. He wants to avenge the death of his wife and child and get redress for the treachery which robbed him of his treasure and delivered him to his current situation.
Will Hartley is a consummate and confident performer and has an impressive comedic pedigree. He was part of award-winning sketch group Clever Peter, with whom he co-wrote and starred in five sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows.
In his hands, we are treated to a well planned and superbly executed tale, full of swashed buckles, sea battles, cutlass fights, sea monsters, betrayal and redemption. The action is prefigured by a jaunty piratical seas shanty before Hartley bounds energetically onto the stage and pitchforks the audience back to 1684, and the last hurrah of piratical adventurism.
Hartley has complete mastery of his material. He sprinkles a number of puns, (some groan-inducing) throughout the narrative, and uses occasional 4th wall breaks effectively. He is unfazed by a late entrant and welcomes her into the show without missing a beat, and has a nice line in self-deprecatory humour.
There is huge amount of detail in this story, which necessitates a fast-moving series of different characterisations, voices and non-verbal communication techniques. Indeed, the sheer pace of the narrative sometimes threatens the clarity of the plot, and a fine line is trodden between exposition and confusion. There are times when we are very much aware that Cutlass is trying to get a quart into a pint pot.
Hartley, however, is at all times captain of the piece and remains in control of the development of the plot, ensuring that the story pleasingly and satisfyingly comes full circle.
Cutlass is a thoroughly entertaining hour delivered by a skilled and enthusiastic raconteur.
Highly recommended.
Review by Johnny Oxford
Captain Springsmile Jack, infamous pirate captain, has been captured and is due to hang in the morning. But there is more than meets the eye.
Is he truly trapped? How did he get here? Why didn’t Will employ more cast members?
William Hartley, former member of acclaimed sketch group Clever Peter (BBC Radio 4) creates an anarchic multi-character story adventure. A spiritual successor to previous one person comedy western, GUN which premiered at the Vault in 2018.
CUTLASS
The Glitch
29 July to 3 August 2026
