LUCIDMEDIA

Paul Hutcheson stars in his one man show held at the Fanshawe College studio in Downton London. 

From his first adrenaline rush playing little league soccer to his enlightenment teaching teenagers, Paul Hutcheson commands the stage in a performance, usually comedic, sometimes touching, all the while tempting you to remember those times when you could have chosen differently. 

The premise of the play follows Paul as he relays various scenarios to paint a larger picture of second guessing and self reflection. When he first appears on stage he is in an awkward pose and one can only think he is trying to stand as still as possible when really he is hiding a surprise as he unfolds his story to the audience. To reveal the secret would only diminish the effect but it not only had the house holding their sides, it had them nearly fetching the garbage pail. Throughout the show Paul balances himself along that thin wire we call decision as well as pushing himself deeper and deeper into the audience's comfort zone. After the second reminiscing of defecation one might receive second thoughts about the play, but it proves rewarding when, at the end, Paul takes pieces from each sketch to delivers his final sentiments. 

Paul Hutcheson delivers a steady performance although pushes too intensely when relief needs to be given, and doesn't stress enough at times to fill the stage with his sole presence. When in other characters Paul remains Paul and the characters imagined are forced into a near cliche in the mind. This shortcoming, of remaining himself, oddly aides his performance and keeps us focused more on the experience than the acting. 

Paul didn't have a definite charisma on stage, but I felt as though he was a friend. To draw a parallel; during the kangaroo sketch Paul mentions Sarah, an American girl who was clinging to him as though he was 'the safe guy'; evidently to fend herself away from the creepy Australian. Well, I felt much the same way with Paul, that even though he was describing situations that may have been fairly spectacular and somewhat unnerving, he relayed them with comfortable levels of fun and vigor.  

The show left me feeling very light and as though I had learned helpful advice on foresight and hindsight. The constant realizations of Paul's that 'this may have been a bad idea', and then realizing more enthusiastically that 'it was in-fact a good idea', gave me the sensation that I could do anything and be proud about it. If comfort in yourself is worth a penny to anyone, you might spend a few on seeing "On Second Thought...".