Rich Hardisty is a raw, emotive and incredibly funny storyteller. He guides us through his unbelievable life that contains tales so wacky that you know they must be real, because nobody could write it!
Hardisty has suffered with severe mental health issues and addiction for a long period of his life, but he’s clean now and while he’s still a self-admitted “silly boy” he opens his mind up for an hour to let us all inside.
This show covers some exceedingly heavy topics that could be difficult to listen to if it weren’t for Hardisty’s reassuring mannerisms and hilarious self-deprecating and disarming comedy. His upbringing without his dad was hard; relying on television as a father figure is unimaginable for some people but it has led to his wonderfully weird personality.
The most impressive thing about Hardisty is his innate ability to truly show you how he feels when he’s in a manic state or his sobering lows. He not only describes his psychology, but he physically shows you, acting out his frenzy and inner dialogue between his consciousness and sub. It is such an impressive piece of artistry than instantly connects you to this unfortunately troubled individual.
What you’ll love about Hardisty is his world view. It’s only from being at rock bottom that you really gain a true perspective on the people down there with you. We are too quick to judge and label people instead of treating them with the empathy and the compassion they deserve. It may be a really roundabout way of coming to these conclusions, but Hardisty is a modern day philosopher who should be admired as someone who has been through the hardest times and pulled himself back out of them.
He may make you cry but he will definitely make you laugh.
Rich Hardisty: Silly Boy
16:30 at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)
August 23 – 29
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Rich%20Hardisty%3A%20Silly%20Boy%22
