The Prima Party Scrapbook is a triumph for Fringe newcomers Tops and Tales, and particularly for one-man party Matthew Squance. This solo show recounts hilarious and heartfelt stories from the scrapbook of his life, and in particular, from a single night in London during which he went 'way past his limits' and became the monster he characterises as the 'party prima'. True to its name, the show presents a number of vivid but disjointed stories in a crafty, hands-on style, requiring wigs, balloons, glowsticks, a fishnet vest, and plenty of audience participation.
The setting of The Prima Party Scrapbook in the Apex International Hotel is wonderfully incongruous; a camp be-wigged man leaping about, playing guitar and bursting balloons while an audience do their best impressions of 'mum dancing' is probably not a sight seen here often.
There are multiple laugh-out-loud moments from Squance, including a ten-minute recitation of a weed-fuelled conversation he had during his 'party prima' night, which he does while wearing a pork-pie hat with a bong protruding from its crown. Squance is also brilliantly understated – as understated as you can be whilst wearing leggings, fluorescent sunglasses, and claiming to be a Somali pirate. He may be a 'prima', but he's not a diva, and this performance is more like a chat over a cuppa at times.
The genius of this show lies in the fact that Squance, though admittedly shameless (baring a pair of luminous green boxer briefs on more than one occasion), creates an atmosphere of comfort and trust from the outset, encouraging the audience to blow bubbles and to pass the bubble wands amongst themselves before the show has even begun. Even his tech team from Tops and Tales, Sam and Mike, join in with him on occasion.
Most British people would shudder or vomit upon hearing the phrase 'audience participation'. But none of Squance's audience seemed remotely reluctant to join in with his own choreography to Irene Cara's classic 'Flashdance... What a Feeling!'. If you are one of those people who heads straight to the back row for fear of catching the eye of the performer and consequently being thrust onto the stage, I urge you to go straight to The Prima Party Scrapbook and be converted. You'll be up dancing in no time.
Squance is a performer I expect we will be seeing a lot more of, especially if he keeps his mate Sam's mad tambourine skills on board.
