one4review | On 15, Aug 2026

Daniel Adolfsson is an immensely likeable presence in Bad Boy, a warm, funny and ultimately hopeful tale about an actor for whom life seems determined not to follow the script.

Adolfsson plays Jack, a struggling performer recently separated from his girlfriend and left, somewhat unexpectedly, with custody of her relatively immobile dog. While his ex, her new partner and his best friend all appear to be moving onwards and upwards, his own acting career consists largely of providing voiceovers for adverts.

So when his successful friend Tom puts him forward for the role of Alexei in Anna Karenina, it finally looks as though his luck might be changing. Unfortunately, life has other ideas.

Adolfsson mines his character’s succession of personal and professional disasters for plenty of laughs without ever losing the vulnerability beneath them. He has an easy warmth on stage which makes it impossible not to root for him, even as yet another opportunity threatens to unravel.

A couple of musical interludes are particularly effective, with beautifully delivered, poignantly chosen songs adding another emotional dimension.

Bad Boy ends on a satisfyingly upbeat note. Life may keep handing out lemons, but there is always the possibility that, eventually, you might just make lemonade.

****
Reviewed by Rona

Underbelly Belly Laugh

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Until 30th August (not 17th)