Review: Middle Aged Man In Lycra

Mark Hadlow stars in a thoughtful and comedic one man show.

Middle Aged Man In Lycra

Spiegeltent

November 2

In his first return to the Hawke's Bay stage in 20 years, Mark Hadlow plays the bankrupt property developer Bryan Cook in Gregory Cooper's MAMIL, or Middle Aged Man in Lycra.

When his business falls apart in the global financial crisis, Bryan is left with $2000 and his "life on the lawn" after wife Edie kicks him out.

Following an epiphany at a rainy bus stop, Bryan decides to join the cycling group of the man who liquidated him, and begins riding toward redemption.

Hadlow literally bares it all as Bryan strips from suit, to underwear, before finally conceding to don the lycra, and gives an energetic performance despite cycling for half of it.

Hadlow also brings to life 10 well-written supporting characters - from Bryan's kindle-obsessed-South-African business partner, his overtly-sexual German doctor and even the Italian cycle on which Bryan rides into a better life.

The one-man-show encapsulates the MAMIL and the mid-life crisis with hilarious one-liners, a fast-paced plot, with light and sound-effects which move the audience from the Spiegeltent to the midst of a race.

Bryan's bicycle as the lone prop leaves the show extremely character-driven and Hadlow with a lot of responsibility.

But he pulls it off - with a slump, a smirk, or a shift on the bicycle, Hadlow juggles the characters with ease, constantly engaging with the audience and receiving a final standing ovation.

The only criticisms are about the jokes which rely on stereotypes for audience reaction, such as the German who salutes Wagner, or Bryan's cycling mates, who include an angry, swearing Irishman and an Indian who owns a dairy.

As comedic as the one-man-show is, it has its thoughtful moments and doesn't finish before imparting some wisdom on its audience from Wayne, the geriatric leader of the cycling group.

"Life is a bit like riding a bike.

"Sometimes you're going up, sometimes you're going down but most of the time you're on the flat, on the level. But as long as you keep pedalling you'll be all right."

-The inaugural Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival finishes on November 8, with limited tickets available for the remaining shows held in the Famous Spiegeltent.