Jonny & The Baptists: The Happiness Index – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Music: Jonny Donahoe (he/him) and Paddy Gervers (he/him)

Lyrics: Jonny Donahoe (he/him) and Paddy Gervers (he/him)

Director: James Rowland (he/they)

It is hard to know what to predict from a performance circumspectly advertised as “A new personal and political show about our desire, and the country’s struggle, to just be happy.” Since the listing featured a link to information on content warnings, it seemed sensible to check them ahead of attending. The website claimed the show contains “strong language, allusion to bestiality, and references to death, cancer and depression”, which it certainly does – though that’s underselling the extent to which chronic depression is explored throughout the performance. “Detailed discussion of chronic depression” might have been more accurate, and a heads-up about the occasional references to suicidal feelings would have been appreciated too. That’s not to say these elements were negative parts of the production, of course – it’s just preferable to be clear with content warnings so audience members know what to expect.

In fact, the catchy musical number Never Too Late was a real highlight of the show – it pokes fun at toxic positivity by subverting common phrases said to those with depression, twisting them to emphasise the unrelenting bleakness that often comes with this condition, especially when living with it long-term. Trying to express that particular emotional state authentically, yet playfully enough to keep the audience from falling prey to gloom or emotional disengagement, is a tight-rope act that Jonny Donahoe (he/him) and Paddy Gervers (he/him) excel at.

And yes, there are only two performers that make up “Jonny and the Baptists” – it’s a quirk that they quip about in their intro, but this comic duo play off each other so well that it’s hard to imagine anyone else fitting into their charming onstage banter, let alone their whimsical musical teamwork. From the moment they first appear in their brightly-coloured Lucy & Yak jumpsuits (orange and pink for “the Pooh and Piglet of musical comedy”) and quirky patterned socks, Jonny and Paddy exude a confidence born of genuine ease around each other. Their friendship forms the backbone of the show, with many moments of bickering and banter that will be relatable to fellow neurodivergent – sorry, ‘neurodelightful’ – folk (including this reviewer). One of the most entertaining instances was watching Paddy splutter with ever-increasing good-natured confusion as he tries to trace ADHDer Jonny’s train of thought from ‘horse guy’ to his intended reference.

Another core appeal of the show is how they use music for comic effect. From snarky twists on advertising jingles and famous lines to full-length original songs, the lyrics span all kinds of topics – and the quality of singing was good, too, with some particularly nice harmonies here and there. The zany energy of Do The F’nard (a rap conveying a bizarrely convoluted set of instructions, accompanied by beatboxing) was a real delight, though the jokes in Monkey Funeral focused on low-hanging fruit (yes, including bananas, but also gross-out humour) and outstayed their welcome a bit, so there’s still room for improvement.

The final aspect of note is the political angle – because the personal is political, and our mental health is heavily influenced by our environment and the availability of suitable care. Jonny and Paddy proclaim their socialism openly, then playfully backtrack to insist that the show will not reflect their personal biases since it receives Arts Council funding, and as such “if it ever seems like we’re against the Conservative party and their work of the last fifteen years, that’s just because we’re using facts.” This pretty much sets the tone for their recap of how their happiness levels have been affected over the terms of Prime Ministers from David Cameron onwards, with some jokes landing well (“Liz Truss, she burned bright –” “Like a moth on fire!”) while others relied on sizeism or intellectual ableism, which felt at odds with the otherwise progressive vibe.

Overall, Jonny & The Baptists: The Happiness Index has a lot to recommend it: it’s funny, entertaining and surprisingly tender at points. Watching it could also make for an excellent starting point for conversations about mental health, especially with people who might typically shy away from heavier topics.

Reviewed on 13 March 2025 | Image: Contributed