Review: Gotta Have Faith

 

Gotta Have Faith 

Written and performed by Neil Maxfield

Directed by Alex Williams 

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

WARNING:  This show contains discussion of homophobia, domestic violence, drug abuse, and sexual references. 

I enjoyed a visit to a venue I’ve not attended before to catch the first show in a short run of a new one-man comedy called “Gotta Have Faith”.

This play is the funny and honest story of Neil, the writer, and focuses on his journey through a life from church going teen to drug using adult, whilst also learning about being gay and how to accept himself. And all the while clinging to the one constant: his love of the late, great George Michael.  

Neil says himself this is a very personal journey and it absolutely is. We see him as a mixed up teenager, unsure of his sexuality, confused about how his relationship with Christianity and being gay can work when everyone tells him being gay is a sin. We see him as an adult, forgoing that relationship in favour of a party life in London, learning that the grass it not always greener on the other side of the fence.  

Neil presents very well.  His switch between characters is effortless as we meet his grandmother, his abusive boyfriend and many other people who influence his journey. He intersperses his story with some snippets of George Michal songs, which he sings fairly well, and identify how his character is feeling at that moment. 

As a massive George Michael fan, I would have liked a bit more of his music in the show (though I imagine that would likely mean asking for rights to play it, so not that easy).  Whilst there was some brief music during the nightclub scenes, it would have also been nice to have a little more music as background overall.  

This is a very raw presentation of Neil’s life story so far and one that would undoubtedly be true of other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Neil has come through this and out the other side – others maybe have not been so fortunate to have found that support.  This is also a love letter to his grandmother, whom he clearly adored.

A funny and poignant show, I can see this doing well in future venues and would recommend seeing it. 

Disclaimer: Alex Williams (director) runs watfordfringereviews.blogspot.com. This review was written by Andrea Richardson (of Belmont Theatre Company and numerous review websites).