[Ad- gifted experience]Â The Sarah McGuinness Story is a very personal musical cabaret, a completely one-person show, about Sarah McGuinness’ life, played by her. We went to see this show in The Circle & Star Hampstead, which is a small venue, attached to a pub – and it was packed. The venue being super intimate and sort of filled to the brim did feel right for this type of performance, in a lot of ways.
Being a cabaret, there were a lot of talking to the audience, addressing the audience, and even interacting with the front row the the audience. On the night that Dann and I went, the audience weren’t that warmed up at first, though I am not sure why. Sarah McGuinness didn’t miss a beat, however, making jokes and getting everyone warmed up for the show she was about to put on. Sarah has lived a life full of low lows and mid-tier highs, and this performance showcases all of them. It’s a realistic life, not one that ends in a huge fairy-tale ending. It just ends in that room, full of life and full of passion.
The Sarah McGuinness Story talks about her always wanting to please people, growing up as a child in London and then moving to Northern Ireland where she didn’t fit in, due to being a Britt. Between parents fighting, crowded houses, the general atmosphere of war and sadness – she continued forward, hoping someday to act and sing. This idea of not fitting in followed her into her adulthood, where she was on the verge of being someone, in a room with people who were someones, but still found herself on the outside – somehow, not quite connecting.
Sarah talks about not being cute enough, being to harsh, and not being British enough and how that all cultivated into not knowing exactly who she was in an industry that’s primarily focused on how old you are, what you look like and where you’re from. This show is a very interesting look into her life! Sprinkled throughout, there were songs from those who inspired her, like David Bowie, and a bunch of her own original writing. She held attention while she did quick costume changes, had sips of water (or wine) and made little side comments at someone’s mobile phone that kept going off. She’s able to command and manage a stage. It’s an interesting one-women show, and one well worth watching if you have any interest in fame and fitting in.
You can check out our other Days Out to see what else we’ve been up too!