Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me written and directed by Philip Stokes. Review by That Guy In The Foyer, John Doherty ★★★★★ Presented by Holden Street Theatres The Studio, Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh. Feb 14 – March 19. Philip Stokes is no stranger to the Adelaide Fringe but has been absent for a while. Stokes’ confronting “Heroin(e) For Breakfast” stands out as one of the highpoints of the 2010 season. A gritty, dark, yet hilarious examination of the lives of three twenty something Brits, their relationships with themselves, each other and reality, “Heroin(e) For Breakfast” features a character Tommy who has lost whatever tenuous grip he had on reality. Tommy was played magnificently by Craig Mc Ardle, a Yorkshire born, bred and trained actor now residing in Adelaide who is terribly underutilised! But I digress. In some ways similar to Tommy, Daniel Valentine (Jack Stokes) is an unusual boy! Daniel is more than obsessive about Yorkshire diva Jane McDonald – who, I am told, isn’t very good- and Jesus- no, not a Latin American pop star! Literally, Jesus! The audience enters to find Daniel in a sartorial silk dressing gown and boxer shorts despite the grimly boarded up windows of the family home. If one looks closely, a range of items on set foreshadow what is to come. A blackout and dramatic music- I imagine sourced from a Jane McDonald performance- herald the commencement of Daniels seventy- minute exchange with us. Daniel scans the audience with a cheeky, terribly camp grin, and flamboyantly launches into a tirade about a nosey neighbour who, Daniel assures us, he tolerates because the family vicar, Reverend Birch, always said to “Love thy neighbour.” This clever writing, performed with great theatricality, suited launched a dynamic character arc Daniel segues into observations about the congregation- his mother having become “quite the cause de jour”-observations which reveal simmering resentment and fanatical interest in The Rapture. This predicted event of Biblical proportion melds with Daniels fierce devotion to his mother, “a very dominant woman” who people “all said she reminded them of Sophia Loren,” and Jane McDonald. Ensuing events become more and more extreme; “Don’t people over-react to school fires?” Daniel does not see extremity in his actions. Rather, he embraces the vilification of others toward him as confirmation of his eligibility for The Rapture and responds in the way a Crusader of old would probably have justified their extreme acts. Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is a rare theatrical treat, a coming of age story with numerous plot twists and, ultimately, a protagonist who is very much in control of their life choices. This show is Jack Stokes’ debut- and what a debut! Just turned nineteen, this fine actor shows great promise indeed. While speaking with him after the show, Stokes said he was embracing his experience of coming to Australia as he may never again find the opportunity to do so. Oh, no, no, no Jack! We want to see more of your work as you grow as a performer! You must return! Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is a must see and is my tip to receive numerous awards! Go! You must see this!