Josh Sharp's 'ta-da!' Show: A Fusion of PowerPoint Comedy and Personal Trauma
In the vibrant heart of London's Soho Theatre, an off-Broadway sensation has taken the stage, captivating audiences with a unique blend of technology and raw human emotion. Josh Sharp, a former child magician from New York, presents his show 'ta-da!', a 75-minute performance that masterfully intertwines PowerPoint comedy with humour mined from personal trauma. This production, running until 28 February, represents a bold experiment in modern standup, where form and content collide in a spectacle of virtuosity and vulnerability.
The PowerPoint Spectacle: 2,000 Slides of Scripted Chaos
From the moment the show begins, Sharp establishes a frenetic pace, wielding a clicker with wild abandon as he projects a battery of "hellos," "hi's," and "welcomes" in ginormous letters on an upstage screen. He informs the audience that there will be 2,000 slides throughout the performance, each meticulously scripted and preordained, despite the appearance of spontaneity. This technological feat serves as a testament to Sharp's background in magic, creating an illusion of chaos that is, in reality, a carefully choreographed dance of digital imagery.
The constant underscoring, echoing, and backchat on screen creates a dynamic visual landscape that both engages and distances the viewer. Sharp hints that this mode of presentation might reflect his generation's habit of double-screening entertainment, though he quickly moves beyond this notion to delve into deeper themes. The PowerPoint gimmick, while sometimes distracting from the emotional core of the story, adds a layer of super-slick theatrics that enhances the overall experience.
Personal Trauma: A Coming-Out Story with Heart
Beneath the flashy slideshow lies a profoundly personal narrative. Sharp shares his coming-out story as a southerner turned New Yorker, weaving in the painful reality of his mother's terminal cancer and his own watery near-death experience from a few years ago. In a show forever alert to its own status as confessional performance—or "theatre with an r-e," as he phrases it—Sharp admits that all the tech whizzery is designed to conceal the cliche of discussing parental bereavement and queer self-discovery on stage.
To undergird his exploration of being alive and dead simultaneously, Sharp ropes in Schrödinger's cat and quantum immortality theory, adding a philosophical depth to his personal journey. His tale packs a considerable punch, delivered with an endearing presence that resonates throughout the theatre. There is an affecting tenderness towards his mum and dad, balanced by solid stand-alone standup bits, such as humorous anecdotes about urban umbrella usage and a memorable "weenie massage."
Balancing Act: When Technology and Emotion Collide
Do the two shows—the PowerPoint comedy and the personal trauma narrative—satisfyingly unite into a coherent whole? Sharp throws himself at this challenge with gusto, though the combination can sometimes feel as if they're pulling in different directions. The constant visual distractions on screen occasionally keep the most meaningful aspects of his story at a distance, yet the overall impact remains powerful.
Amusingly arch Gen-Z stylings pepper the performance, adding a contemporary flair that appeals to modern audiences. Despite the potential disconnect between the slick slideshow theatrics and the heart-on-a-stick story, the show delivers big laughs and emotional resonance, representing pretty big bang for your buck. It's a testament to Sharp's skill as a performer that he can navigate these contrasting elements with such finesse.
As 'ta-da!' continues its run at Soho Theatre, it invites audiences to reflect on the ways we process trauma and find humour in the darkest of places. Josh Sharp's innovative approach to standup comedy challenges conventions and offers a fresh perspective on what it means to perform in the digital age.
