Jimmy Fox performs his new show at the Ramor Theatre.

Jimmys variety show with Tinsel plays the Ramor

Seamus Enright

“Show business and shoe business, they both have their similarities,” quips Cavan businessman Jimmy Fox, the playwright and actor-in-chief of a new musical stage show at Virginia’s Ramor Theatre.
‘No Business Like Shoe Business’ is a comedic review of life in the shoe business, detailing the characters, conundrums and cachinnation encountered in everyday life as a purveyor of fine foot accessories.
“In short it’s a light-hearted look at the similarities of both. You come in first thing in the morning, turn on the lights, the stage crew arrive and we put on our retail face. Then we open the door and that’s when the characters arrive,” says former stage-and-screen actor Jimmy.
He explains the idea for the show emerged after speaking with long-time friend Paul ‘Bosco’ McEneaney, artistic director at Belfast children’s theatre company, Cahoots.
Having previously worked together professionally at the Lyric Theatre, and also in setting up the Shanakee Theatre Company, the seed was sown when Jimmy mentioned he’d like to get back on stage.
Speaking to The Anglo-Celt last week as the final touches to rehearsals were taking place, Jimmy recounts how on one occasion, award-winning poet, playwright and writer Tom McIntyre had asked him if he ever “regretted” leaving life on the stage for one on the shop floor. “I pose that question in the show. But from when I first started writing this play, I’ve always been conscious of the fact, while very personal, it’s not about me, Jimmy Fox. Let’s face it, who’d want to go see that? So in a sense, it’s not personal at all. But the stories and what is being played out on stage may come across, as such, because I’m playing the character of Mr Fox on stage. It’s a blend of what is truth and what is fiction, ultimately that’s a very fine line to tread, and we leave - which is which - to the audience to decide.”
Featuring input from novelist and playwright Dermot Healy, and a whole host of soon-to-be classic songs ‘Girls if it fits like a glove it’s too tight’,’There is no two the same’ and the cobblers lament ‘There will never be another shoe’, Jimmy describes the play as “a variety show with tinsel”.
“That’s the trite answer, when in reality we might have something really quite magically on our hands,” he surmises. “It’s the sum of its parts and, while it has the intention of being a variety show at heart, we’re in danger of veering towards quite a poignant piece of theatre at the same time.”

The cast
Starting out initially as a one-man show, aided by the theatrical nouse of friend Paul as director, ‘...Shoe Business’ has developed into a two-man, three-actress show, including local talent Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick and Peadar Lafferty, and music by Gareth McConaghie.
Jimmy tells the Celt: “To stand back and watch someone do something quite magically with an idea you’ve had and transform it to where you’re no longer the actor of the thought but in fact an audience member is really overwhelming. It has been an amazing journey for me and I count myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with a great many people, and have a lot of them working with me on this project. While I have provided the script, it’s only by the sprinkle of magic theatre dust by these people that it managed to come alive.”
Regardless of the success of the show, Jimmy is adamant that Mr Fox will remain a stage-only character and his current foray back onto the stage will remain a set sojourn.
“Mr Fox is not going back to show business, he is most definitely staying within the confines of the shoe business,” declares Jimmy.
“While I’ve enjoyed all of this, if someone asked me to do a show in two weeks’ time, the best show ever, I still wouldn’t do it. It’s been wonderful to dip my toes back in these things but the anxiety it all brings is not something I particularly enjoy. Some people thrive on it but, I now realise, I’m not one of those people.”

‘Voyage of discovery’
“It’s been a voyage of discovery, or rediscovery even, getting back into theatre and I’m pleased. If it comes off as I’ve intended I’ll be over the moon. But that really is the end of it for me because it’s back to the shoe shop on Monday morning from Mr Fox,” says Jimmy.

‘No business like shoe business’ takes place at the Ramor Theatre tonight, Friday, and October 31, and again, November 6-7, starting each night at 8.30pm.

Admission €18 & €16 and tickets can be bought online at www.ramortheatre.com or through the box office at 049-8547074.