one4review | On 12, Aug 2024

Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, Adam Riches, takes on the character of Jimmy Connors, the self-proclaimed greatest tennis player in the world, in a fast-paced, physical hour of theatre in the very warm and intimate Techcube Zero at Summerhall.

As we enter the theatre, Adam, as Jimmy, is already sitting on the side of the stage, or court, dressed in tennis whites and with a towel over his head. He introduces the show while playing tennis to a soundtrack of shots, applause and general crowd noise. He explains that this is the 1991 US Open, and that he is losing to Patrick McEnroe, the brother of his arch nemesis, John. We then take a step back to learn how he first made his way into the elite world of tennis, encouraged by his grandmother and coached by his tough, single mother Gloria. His mother is revealed as the major influence on his life, and he never seems to be able to get her out of his head. We then go back to that 1991 US Open and learn that he is 39 years old at the time and, motivated by a fan in the crowd threatening to walk out of the court, he goes on to beat McEnroe and, incredibly, make it all the way to the semi-final. But can he go on to win the tournament, his ‘one last shot’, which, as he says, is what everyone really wants out of later life.

The performance is very loud, brash and energetic, at times amusing. Adam’s demeanour on stage is such that he almost morphs into Jimmy Connors at times, and the soundtrack to the tennis is incredibly well synchronised with the action on court. The show slightly loses focus towards the end, but nevertheless this is a compelling hour of fringe theatre, and I would highly recommend catching it, but perhaps not sitting in the front row, where the swinging racquet gets ever closer as the shots get more aggressive!

****
Reviewed by Howard
Summerhall, Techcube Zero
21.30 (1hr)
Until 26th August (not 12th & 19th)