WHILE THE PLAY IS LARGELY SELF-DEPRECATING AND LIGHTHEARTED, THERE ARE THEMES EXPLORED THAT BRING A LARGELY HUMAN AND TENDER ELEMENT TO JEREMY’S TALES

By Katie Shaw | @katieeshaaw ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Susan Jeremy’s one-woman show, Robert Will Show You The Door, is a quick witted, endearing tale of a lifetime of jobs, uncertainty of purpose, and being shown the door.

We’ve all been there: our boss has pulled us for a chat, and much the way that Love Islanders scramble to find space in the villa, we scramble to find our words when we’re told, “you’re fired.” (I say this as a 26 year old who has not yet been ‘shown the door’, but can’t a girl negatively manifest?) Walking us through the jobs she’s been fired from, beginning in her teen years when Robert fired her from the fish and chippy – only to replace her with Megan the bitch cheerleader; to getting fired as a clown entertainer for forgetting her costume, Jeremy moves on to the next job in search of her purpose. And the next one. And the next. It’s only at the end of the play that we meet her in present day: debuting her one-woman show in London at Greenwich Theatre.

While this play is largely self-deprecating and lighthearted, there are themes explored that bring a largely human and tender element to Jeremy’s tales. At times, it feels difficult to understand where the laughter should end (if at all) and the poignant consideration of Jeremy’s words should begin, as even these themes are delivered in an entertaining way. Towards the end of the play, it becomes clear that this is a play that holds humour at its heart, but is anchored by purpose and humanity; a reminder that we’re all human and doing the best we can.

Jeremy’s stage presence feels a little stiff at times, though through her physical comedy she provides an entertaining overview of each job and firing. The writing and storytelling is equal parts witty, empowering and self-deprecating, with Jeremy informing the audience what she wishes she had said to each boss who fired her, before admitting what she had actually said. Mostly, she reacts obligingly, asking if she can at least keep the $20 from the seedy man at the strip club…

Admittedly, I wasn’t immediately charmed by this play, but it feels like a slow burn that’s worth the wait. Where the real magic comes is with Jeremy’s compelling impressions; impersonating Uncle Dominic at the races, or the wise-ass Cory and hyperactive beat boxer Stefan at the psych ward, as well as every manager who has ever fired her (spoiler: it’s a whole hour worth of firings). Jeremy’s flair for impersonations elevates this already amusing tale and its comedic value. As Jeremy’s storytelling unravels and the audience gets a taste for her humour and wit, I can’t help but feel admiration for Jeremy and her ladder of career misadventures.

Robert Will Show You The Door (Tales Of Being Fired) is running at Greenwich Theatre until Saturday 25 April.

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