It’s a daunting and tricky task, putting a funny spin on mental health. What If There Is No Toilet? sees Felicity Ward not only take on this challenge but do it with effortless gusto.
At the top of the show, Ward reveals that she has been diagnosed with the ‘triple threat of mental illnesses’. Closely linked to this is a long-standing anxiety she’s had at the prospect of losing bladder control, hence the quirky show title.
Over the course of the hour Ward candidly shares her journey of living and struggling with her mental illness before her eventual acceptance that she needed help. She strikes the perfect balance between lively candor and well-crafted comedy, deftly infusing humor in to what is normally viewed as unfunny while all the same not shying from the reality of it all.
Considering the weighty subject matter the mood of the show is anything but. From a hilarious personification of her inner voice Beryl to how she deals with a ‘closing down sale’, you barely have time to catch your breath as the laughs are plentiful and constant. Ward is a skilled comedian who knows how to work the crowd, delivering well-honed, superbly timed joke after joke that had the audience in absolute hysterics.
Ward’s mission to use comedy as her way of removing some of the shroud that covers mental health is extremely bold and inspiring. What If there Is No Toilet? is a wonderfully uproarious and enjoyable hour that is joyously exuberant and endlessly entertaining.
What If There Is No Toilet? is on until April 30th at the Herald Theatre at 8:30pm and then heading to San Fran, Wellington for just one performance on May 1st at 7pm. For more details and to book tickets, click here.
comedy | theatre | live entertainment | performing arts 