Edfringe Theatre Review: The Bob Ross Effect

Art as therapy is expanded, celebrated, and pulled right through the heart by writer/performer Sarah-Louise Young in ‘The Bob Ross Effect’. Equipped with crayons and plain paper on a clipboard before we’ve even entered the venue, and greeted with genuine understated warmth and the offer of biscuits by Young before we settle, she turns the tiered stalls of the Piccolo into a Christmas morning/beach sunrise/family hug. You don’t have to know who Bob Ross is to see the show, but before it starts you already know how Bob Ross feels.

In case you didn’t know, Bob Ross is the artist behind TV show ‘The Joy of Painting’. Gently spoken, he philosophises positivity and teaches how to paint. Young calls him: “The grandfather of ASMR”. But this isn’t just about him. It’s about friendship, grief, family, acceptance and offering yourself a bit of kindness. Plus doing a bit of drawing if you fancy it.

Young is a generous writer and performer, sharing smiles and whip-sharp lyrics sung out to warm every inch of the audience like sunshine. She opens up her friendship with the late burlesque comedian Lynn Ruth Miller – capturing the octogenarian renegade’s persona in voice, and later her grief at her loss. As well as her changing sibling connection in heartfelt song.

Sarah-Louise Young has an incredible voice, and it is a joy to hear her soar and growl out her vocal versatility in these delicious original songs, penned by herself and musician Jordan Paul Clarke. Andrew Pugsley’s sweet stick figure animation is another magical thread in Young’s bid to make art feel accessible. As is Lynn Ruth’s painting on stage. And the unorthodox Bob Ross effigy-by-biscuit crumbs coaxed from two audience members.

‘The Bob Ross Effect’ is a soft blanket of love, broken and mended, with the threads of making art cross-crossing and uplifting. It left me in floods of warm grief tears remembering my own small connection to the unstoppable Lynn Ruth, and a reminder of the shared joy of painting.