Travels With My Virginity

Are you looking for ideas for a good night out ? Try this. Go and listen to a balding middle-aged man talk about his difficulties in losing his virginity for an hour and a half. No, it didn’t do it for me either!
But as it turned out, it did do it for me, and I am very glad I went to see this original and wincingly funny production.

What Dartnell lacks in hair he makes up for in balls. Which of course is the point of ‘Travels With My Virginity’ the latest production from this intelligent comic, which follows Guy’s desperate attempts to lose his virginity as a 19 year old hitch-hiking across France and the bizarre meetings with an odd assortment of people he meets on the way.

Dartnell turned in a truly accomplished performance in a one man show that draws you in so you feel you are with him on his surreal journey. It is as though you are listening to your favourite uncle telling you a funny story. And it is funny. Its also insightful of our innate drives to love and desire and what we do with those impulses. It is at times quite touching, as can be when we hear someone of maturity recalling their youthful hopes and dreams. The show is supported by some well chosen music from the era, The Doors, Talking Heads et al. The script is excellent, this is really good story-telling. It's so good Dartnell’s skilful writing appears unwritten which is of course its mastery.
We may all think we know about the anguish of unrequited love and the mayhem it can cause but few of us can do something this good with our memories.

This is a an enjoyable evening and so compelling that you really do want him to get the girl. Does he? You’ll need to go and see the show tonight to find that out. But to my surprise I got Guy Dartnell, and despite my pre date jitters he turned out to be the perfect one night stand up!

Clare Carswell (Unverified), 21/06/08

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Guy Dartnell certainly provides his audience with an hour and a half of dramatic and enjoyable entertainment. Travels With My Virginity is the fourth of his five solo shows.

In this monologue he recounts his hitchhiking journey across Northern France to Rennes in 1978 to meet an older girl friend, his sole aim being to lose his virginity. As he acts out his journey, with occasional songs and snatches of music, he conveys his thoughts and feelings, regret for missed opportunities, frustration, elation, despair and at times, sheer terror, while all along maintaining the theme of comic self mockery.

The bizarre assortment of people who offer him lifts add to the rather surreal tale. A number of the drivers seem to want to invite him back to their own places and after his first experience of this he becomes very cautious. The decision whether to get into a particular car clearly can be life changing. Characters include a smart suited guy who drives incredibly fast at night, who keeps on trying to persuade him to go to Paris and will not stop the car except in the dark miles from town to sleep. He manages to create a very eerie atmosphere when telling of this lift. Another driver, who appears very friendly, and has a car completely full of junk, turns out to have lived in a mental hospital. He skilfully communicates the mixture of gaucheness and bravado that affected him at the age of 19, as well as the “what ifs”. When he eventually gets to Rennes, a surprise awaits him. His quest is not at an end and involves further travels.

It is remarkable that with only a chair and a couple of other props, Guy can keep his audience interested. He makes very good use of sound and lighting effects. Guy is planning to make a film of these travels and we hope to see this, as we enjoyed the show and certainly recommend it.

Arthur (Unverified), 21/06/08

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