Ruby Wax is doing wonderfully—just ask her! She’s rich, famous, happily married and funny as f**k. But perhaps that’s the problem because some things aren’t funny and should not be laughed at. Like the taunts four-year-old Ruby endured at the hands of her parents about eating too much and how no one would ever love her. And that’s just for starters. But, come on, that was a lifetime ago, she’s absolutely fine now. Well, maybe not “fine”, but definitely “OK”. Except for the lead-like weight that seems to have seeped into her limbs and the dark thoughts that swirl through her brain like Tourette-riddled devils.

Wax’s one woman play, I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was is based on her struggles with recurrent depression after 12 years free from the debilitating illness. For that’s what depression is, it’s an illness, not a character flaw. While society is starting to catch-up in this regard, it’s through the work of advocates like Ruby Wax who are assisting with this necessary cultural shift. And the one woman play that Wax “wrote, auditioned for, slept with (herself), and landed the lead”, is an ingenious way to deliver a serious message with hilarity. 

The 60-minute show presents Wax’s journey to recovery in a “mental ward” via what she describes as three Epic Adventures. Epic Adventure One was a 30-day silent meditation retreat to reconnect with nature and one’s inner voice, hence the ban on the “outer voice”. While at first horrified by the phone-napping practiced upon entry and the ban on intoxicants and killing (bugs, ants, and other similar critters found in abundance in the woods) by the end of the month, Wax left feeling enlightened and peaceful, if somewhat coat hanger-shaped from 30 days of sitting cross-legged in the dirt. 

In recalling her “hippie adventure”, Wax impersonates two wild turkeys fighting over a lone female, and this impression alone is worth the ticket price. But to hark back to Wax’s hilarity and its problematic nature for her, it was at this retreat surrounded by ancient Redwoods that she first recognised her unquenchable thirst for attention. Her innate comedic talent had garnered that positive attention for her but now, battling those cussing demons, she finally saw that it was also her shield against anyone finding her as repugnant as her parents had.

Epic Adventure Two involved small boats and gigantic mammals. Diving with the humpback whales brought new challenges and breakthroughs, from staring the huge mammal literally in the eye and trying not to sh*t herself, to dealing with a group of big, blonde, Scandinavian “healers” and trying not to push them overboard. Again, Wax demonstrated her acting prowess that extends far beyond comedic presence alone, a result of her background in performance as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and years on UK television screens.

While Epic Adventures One and Two were each enlightening in their own ways, they did not “fix” her. Epic Adventure Three, therefore, saw Wax enter a Christian monastery where she fulfilled a life goal of getting to hit the gong. In addition to turkeys, Wax does a stellar impersonation of a resounding gong. While she evoked the atmosphere of said religious institution perfectly, at this point Wax spotted an audience member who appeared acutely unwell and she stopped the performance. Help was called and the poorly patron was assisted from the venue and Wax resumed her show. Due to the disruption, however, the last adventure was cut short. 

Not missing a beat, Wax got straight back into character and finished her tale in the mental hospital where the “inmates” were cooky, including one who thought a communist resided in his back molar, which all made for good story fodder. For while some things are not funny, paradoxically it’s being able to laugh at oneself that will often save you. 

I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was, sadly, was a two-show Fringe season and it’s now over. But if you’re interested in knowing more, the show is based on Wax’s book of the same name. A long-time advocate for mental health, Wax is to be commended for the degree of deeply personal issues that she offers up for inspection. While the subject matter was dark, it was delivered with her signature blend of sharp wit and candid vulnerability, amounting to a masterclass in comedic storytelling. For if comedy is really tragedy plus time, then this is exactly how one turns personal pain into performance art. Wonderfully done, both hilarious and deadly serious, it’s clear why Ruby Wax has the sort of star power that speaks to all. Thanks for sharing, Ruby, and please visit us again.