WHEN HARRY MET HARRY

Lantern Church Gym

August 1, 2011

If any show at the Fringe resembles a cartoon on stage, this is it.  The musical underscoring, plus creator / performer Allan Girod’s overly deliberate movements (for comic effect, of course) remind me very much of an animated show as performed by a human.

When Harry Met Harry lets the audience into the life of Harry, a man who is governed by routine and who lives for his job.  No matter how mundane his job would seem to most people - working in the print department of some company - to Harry, it’s the most important occupation in the world.

What’s even more important is how efficiently he performs his job, and he takes this to new extremes.  Needless to say, his habits rub his co-workers the wrong way, and the big boss calls Harry up for a little chat.

At the boss’ behest, Harry ends up at a team-building meeting lead by a flamboyant personal coach, who encourages everyone to get in touch with their inner zen or whatever.  Harry has to perform various exercises to help loosen up and develop better interpersonal skills.  Harry is not happy, especially when said exercises involve whoopee cushions and singing.

When Harry met Harry is quite funny, made even more so by Girod’s comic face, tall, gangly frame, and Australian accent.  He is perfect for the role he created.

There is audience participation, of which I’m not overly fond but, thankfully, it’s not overdone.  Furthermore, at 55 minutes in length, the show doesn’t live beyond the expiry date of its joke.

When Harry Met Harry is silly, but very entertaining, and I’m sure most people will be able to see at least a bit of Harry in someone they know.

When Harry Met Harry runs again on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.