07 February 2012 (Theatre Interview)

Words: Lauren O'Toole

Lauren O'Toole speaks to Sonya Kelly about her intriguingly titled show show, The Wheelchair On My Face.

So you appear to have spent the last few years straddling the worlds of theatre and comedy – do you feel as though "The Wheelchair on My Face" is successful in marrying the two?

Yes. I'd like to think that the show is a happy marriage of the best of both worlds. The story has a few weepy bits which is not quite right for the International (Bar) or the Laughter lounge. I'd like to think that the play is for theatre goers who like a bit of stand up comedy but not the other way round. Theatre audiences tend to be sober which I prefer.

"The Wheelchair on My Face" tells the story of your myopic childhood – is it entirely autobiographical or embellished hugely for comic effect? There are some hilarious moments which just seem too good to be true?
Some parts I must admit spent a little time in the embellishing machine but nothing was made up. There is one character in the show, the man in the hospital, who is really three people but we've only got 55 minutes and there's no time or justafication for three people. When you are putting together a real life story you still have an obligation to to make it clear to the audience. Sometimes that means shoe-horning one event or character into another to make the journey flow. Even still, everything that comes up in the show has it's roots in a real memory.

The show was developed under Fishamble's "Show in a Bag" scheme for the Absolut Fringe – how did you find the process?
Really fantastic. You pitch your idea and if the panel go for it, you have a ready made team, a great venue and an industry showcase which is organised for you. The Irish Theatre Institute gave us rehearsal space and Gina Moxley came on board as director which was a real score. She has a great instinct for lifting the story off the page and was so much fun to work with. I told her the other day she has the unique skill of being able to block an entire show using only her left eyebrow. It's true.

Obviously the show is more explicitly about the humourous situations that arise from short-sightedness, but beneath it all is the more sincere story of a little girl trapped in her own world with only a fictional friendship with ABBA for comfort. Did you find this time of your life character building, and out of interest, is there still a place in your heart for the Scandanavian superstars?
Yes, it was important for me that the show had balance and a journey for the audience to follow. I used to describe the feel of the show as Little Miss Sunshine meets My Left Foot, a funny play with sad parts. I am grateful for the experiences I had as a child because they helped shape the person I am today and I'm ok with her. I'm also trying to get across a time when there was no internet or thousands of Spongebob And Squarepants' to watch. Staring into an album cover for hours on end was quite a viable entertainment pursuit. I still love ABBA. My ultimate dream is to do the show at the Ice Hotel in Sweden for them, if only to hear the muffled applause of their reindeer skin mittens. I wonder if Fishamle could stretch to that.

The show has truly grown legs; After the national tour you're headed to Paris and then the Edinburgh Fringe – have you performed in the Fringe festival before? Are you looking forward to it?
Yep! I've done some stand up there and I went with a Kabosh show. At the moment we are looking into suitable venues. I have done the Fringe before. I think if there was a motto for the Fringe it should be, 'Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough.' I really can't wait for this one though. I feel lucky going with a company like Fishamble who are hardy Fringe veterans and really understand the pull and push of it.

And below is our review from The Absolut Fringe Festival

Review by: Lauren O'Toole

Star Rating: 4/5

Sonya Kelly tells us she was an overly affectionate child. She climbed unto any available knee, would press her face up close to near strangers and would hug any game adult until she could forensically take note of their smell, sound and - eventually when she was really close - what they looked like... sort of. Kelly's story of her long undetected childhood short-sightedness is shoulder-shakingly hilarious. From the moment she feels her way awkwardly onstage to the strains of Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly now to begin her memoir of the first seven years of her life spent in a land of blurs the audience is enamoured.

Every child finds life confusing to some point and Kelly's show will appeal to more than what she tells us is the 0.01% of the glasses-wearing population with eyesight as bad as hers. The "Communion Training" anecdotes and childhood fantasies of ABBA residing in her wardrobe are the sort of stories that we all have tucked away from the past, but whether anyone else could relay them with the impeccable comic timing that Kelly has is open for debate. This is the sort of nice clean show you could bring your Granny to - and I mean that in the best possible way.

Information on the show dates, venues and tickets available here.

Discounts available

The first 250 tickets purchased to The Wheelchair on my Face from entertainment.ie are only €5! Just choose the regular price ticket below and the discount will appear in your cart. Booking fees still apply.

Back to Theatre Exclusives