Ian Lockwood, or at least this version of him, is remarkably energetic, even by Edinburgh Fringe standards. The sound effects and staging deliberately make the smaller of the two venues at Underbelly George Square seem as though we were in a stadium, and the choreography is accompanied by colourful videos on a large screen (again, as they would be in an arena or a stadium concert).
But one still sits in the front row at one’s own risk – though at the performance I attended, the front row punters were more than up for it. And yes, if the production really did want to attempt a stadium atmosphere, there might not be chairs at all, but everyone standing instead. In a rather extreme example of ‘be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it’, Lockwood has decided that there is no point continuing with life anymore. This is unconnected with the state of the world we’re in and everything to do with having achieved everything he set out to do. So there’s no point being a waste of time, space and oxygen by continuing to exist. And as former prime minister John Major once rather cumbersomely put it, “I would rather go while I am being urged to stay rather than stay beyond the time when I should go”.
The show’s narrative is surprisingly insightful, and the show goes beyond furnishing the audience with a bunch of songs whose tunes wouldn’t be out of place on the kind of radio station that plays contemporary pop but whose lyrics aren’t vanilla and inoffensive enough for those same stations. The sassiness and self-confidence of Lockwood (or, as I say, a version of Lockwood) manifests itself in various ways, most particularly in a video montage of various friends who talk in terms of how irritating and obnoxious he can be. But does it matter? After all, he’s saying farewell anyway. Or is he?
As the old adage would have it, nice guys don’t win. There’s the usual stuff about being true to yourself and not necessarily taking seriously every piece of advice thrown at you. But rarely are messages about going against the grain and doing your own thing told with such flair and razzmatazz. A gloriously over-the-top extravaganza.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Famous musician Ian Lockwood has accomplished everything he’s ever wanted during his illustrious and extremely successful career, and thus, he’s ready to die! See him in concert for his final performance on earth.
The Farewell Tour features ten original comedy pop songs performed in three thematic acts (Heaven, Hell and Earth). Think Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, or any stadium pop concert – this musical comedy extravaganza will deliver a true spectacle that is also hilarious and moving. Packed with catchy tunes, stunning visual projections, gravity defying choreography and pre-recorded interviews, audiences can also look forward to plenty of pop star monologues (in the style of Taylor Swift or Adele) that address the pain that led Ian Lockwood to a detached life of stardom and the far of abandonment masked by a confident pop-star façade.
Directed by Zach Schiffman and produced by Rachel Moss.
IAN LOCKWOOD: THE FAREWELL TOUR
The Wee Coo, Underbelly George Square
31 July to 26 August 2024
Shows and events booking now for Edinburgh Playhouse and for King’s Theatre Glasgow.
