This is just one of the revelations made in the introductiory computerized spiel before Eric the Submariner appears on stage.

 

One can never quite tell beforehand with this sort of event whether the subject of the biography will be real or a spoof ‘mockumentary’ character. From the publicity it could have gone either way. 

 

As it turned out, Eric was the real deal. In more senses than one. Not only was he a genuine 17-year veteran of the Royal Navy – joined at 16, straight into submarine training; he was also the perfect performer to tell his own story - a gifted raconteur in his own right (I hesitate to use the term ‘stand-up’, as his comedy was more natural and gentle, always deriving from the situation rather than being forced for laughs). He told his story with the aid of visuals – a kind of super-cool slide show about dive-bombing sharks, heart-stopping disasters and near misses, and genuine warmth and companionship.    

 

This was not quite a perfect family show – some of the tales can definitely be described as on the salty side.   I’m very glad that I wasn’t the 14-year-old boy in the audience – but even here the humour at the boy’s expense was playful and affectionate rather than the embittered one-liners prevailing in most modern stand-up acts.  Kind of like the gruff barrack-room humour that Eric had been subjected to (and wholeheartedly taken part in himself, by the sounds of things.)     

 

If I did have to nit-pick, it would be to say that Eric could have more confidence in his own material – he doesn’t need to worry about the fact that the audience are not laughing out loud at the ‘non-comedy’ section. We were still enthralled.   

 

This was a truly excellent example of a genre – one-man autobiographical confessional – that in less skilled hands can come across as tired and trite. No such complaints here, although you could feel jealous at the rich and fascinating plethora of experiences Eric has had; you could also feel a twinge of envy at the engrossing, bumbling charm with which he delivers his story. But you don’t, because he’s too damn nice, simpatco.

 

I have dined out on the shark-divebombing story a couple of times already within 48 hours of seeing the show. So will you if you go and see it. So go!