Looking For Wolverhampton's Latin Quarter Review

Sunday evening, upstairs at the Lych Gate. The room was packed and the audience were waiting for the last show of the Midlands Fringe to start.  There had been so many excellent acts over the weekend that we wondered where this one was going to take us.  Well, Ian had us from the start, his delivery from the beginning was spot on. Ian took us back to the seventies and his escapades as a teenager, he shared details with us that he had previously kept under wraps, from sharing secrets from the Co-op to naked knock and run adventures in his Dad’s painting and decorating van.  There were also some music clips from the time and a couple of amusing ditties that Ian played on guitar, which had the audience clapping along.  Looking for Wolverhampton’s Latin Quarter was basically Ian’s belief that he wouldn’t have to travel to Paris or elsewhere to find interesting and artistic people, but that this culture must exist somewhere in Wolverhampton, with him eventually finding it in The Tavern in the Town.  There was, of course, a love interest in there in the form of sweet Jane, who we didn’t much like by the end.  Ian’s self-deprecation and the ability to turn these events into an hilarious glimpse into his younger life, all the while believing that he would hit the big time, either as an artist, poet or songwriter takes us back to the invincibility of youth. I enjoyed this show so much, I challenge you to watch it and come away without feeling entertained, uplifted and filled with joy.  Thanks Ian, that was a tonic!

Linda Banks