Back from last year’s fantastic production, ‘Sammy J and the forest of dreams’, Sammy J brings us a nostalgic view of the 1990s. And as much as his previous production, he acts, sings and strips almost naked, albeit, this time without the help of puppets.
There are some fantastic ideas in his new production, 1999, and some clever nods to the audience. His constant excitement at the release of ‘Toy Story 2′, or digs at google and the speed in which telephones used to connect to the internet are extremely funny, while the insecurities his character (a teenager) goes through are very real to an audience of twenty-something’s. But for all the good things this play has, and there is quite a bit, ultimately it feels like a stretched plot, and one that goes into unrealistic territory. Instead of keeping it fresh and funny, Sammy J has gone down the dark comedy route, something that both baffles and amuses the audience. Shortly into his show, Sammy decides to abduct a school colleague who bullies him. Though a clever plot device, it does detract from his analysis of life in the 90s, and his caricature of teenage living during those years. While until that point, we could all see parallels with him in our own lives (the slight bullying, the embarrassment of going to the swimming pool with your class, wanting to be kissed by a girl…), from that moment on, he loses that, and as such, some of his audience.
The musical numbers are still fantastic (and he is an excellent lyricist), but there are few and far apart, which doesn’t go down well with those who love this part of his comedy. It is a pity then, that not all is great in ‘1999′, since Sammy J has a following, and a daily sold out audience willingly suspending disbelief for his stories, but ultimately, this time, we might not get rewarded for that.
3/5 
Adrian G. Velazquez
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