Scripted comedy is one of the hardest things to get right in theatre. It involves playing a character in a way that seems autobiographical, and yet, having to work through a script, conveying the emotions of another writer with just the right tone and precision. 

This was expertly handled in the Australian premiere of Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen, with Samuel Barnett pulling off an acting masterclass with his one-man show. 

The show tells of a man who, after years of online dating and short-term flings, finally feels as though he has found the one. He meets an American man who fulfils his every desire, the story of which is juxtaposed with his other flings, leading to a messy conclusion. 

Barnett was a superstar on the stage, displaying charm and charisma at all points. It felt as though it was his story, with a conviction displayed that took the show to a whole new level. It was a masterful performance, as Barnett moved between British and American accents effortlessly and he accentuated all the subtle and not-so-subtle humour in the script. 

Barnett’s delivery was also superb, given that the script was incredibly fast paced meaning that Barnett had to move rapidly to get through all the material. However, he did so and with conviction, and his ability to manage the balance of conveying the meaning and getting through the script confidently was a key factor in holding the performance together. 

The script was also interesting and was jampacked with jokes of varying degrees of brusqueness. There were perhaps some moments where the jokes went a little too far, and did not connect with some of the audience, but that was the nature of the show and the majority of the audience responded well to most of the humour, which was in no small part due to the mastery of Barnett’s acting. 

Despite the show being only 65 minutes in length, there were some issues with the structure which meant that it was hard to follow at times. The plot circled back and forth, which created a somewhat disorientating feeling at times. This was certainly part of the desired effect, but it did mean that it was difficult to draw a conclusion at the end of the play. 

Overall, this was an interesting play, illuminated by a masterful acting performance by Samuel Barnett, who had to deal with a challenging and fast-paced script and did so with excellent delivery and nous. The script also had its moments, but the structure meant that the effectiveness was perhaps not quite what it could have been. With that said, if one wanted to see a display of acting at its finest, this is certainly the show for that. 

Rating: ★★★★

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen plays at the Opera House until 23^rd February. For more information, click here.

All photo credits: Daniel Boud