I leave the theatre feeling deeply conflicted. Josh Pickar’s show lingers long after the lights come up, not because it provides easy answers, but because it refuses to. Pickar takes you on a journey through his professional career as a US capital defence attorney representing some of society’s most notorious criminals. Pickar deep dives into the death penalty debate, the institutions that run it and offers an incredible insight through his own experience of the American justice system.
The heart of this performance is Pickar’s ability to form relationships with people on death row that he was representing in court. Continued prison visits creates an uncomfortable dynamic, gradually recognising their humanity beyond the crimes they have committed. This creates a challenge for the audience to confront the moral complexities of the death penalty and push pressure points in our brains as we battle our instinctive understanding of justice, leaving your mind whizzing with unanswered questions and thought-provoking ideas.
Pickar’s delivery is intriguing, very pensive and measured humour that arrives unexpectedly and sometimes blurring the line between a confession and a punchline. The show takes a sudden shift when he plays an audio message, in complete darkness, sent by a former client transforms an intellectual conversation into something painfully human.
Pickar’s journey from defence attorney to completely changing the course of his life attending clown school in France is undeniably compelling, and he deserves applause for tackling a relevant and ethical issue that continues to spark debate today. However the show sometimes leans more on the power of its message than the strength of its theatrical execution.
Josh Pickar: Getting Out, 19:40, Assembly Roxy – Snug Bar at 7:40pm from August 5-30
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/josh-pickar-getting-off
