The Stage

Jody Kamali - Backpacker

Published Wednesday 22 August 2007 at 11:55 by William McEvoy

Jody Kamali’s character-based comedy show is based on his recent trip around Central America.

The actor plays five people he encountered on his travels, and the piece is set in a grimy, cockroach-infested youth hostel in Guatemala.

While some of the characters are carefully observed and have good comic mileage, such as Matt, a Bristolian plasterer, others seem a little forlorn and tragic, while one is simply a crude caricature.

It’s not clear what tone Kamali is trying to strike with the show, although there’s a genuineness about the performance which is inspiring.

Filmed interludes with the characters allow Kamali to change costume into a vastly padded nightdress for self-pleasuring food addict Toni or to appear suited and booted as preppy American Roddy.

The pokey performance space is apt for the youth hostel and Kamali usually, but not always, avoids falling into cultural stereotypes. Also, we learn through a photo series at the end who the real people behind the performance are, which is unsettling. Kamali’s performance of them is often far from flattering. It’s an enjoyable show but not if you are one of the people he portrays.