Could be a very interesting, witty and important production.
The first monologue, Mirrors (by Kaitlin Gould), presents the perspective of someone suffering from bulimia. Innovatively, she tells us her story while still being firmly within the clutches of the disorder. The material is, of course, of a very serious nature, and as such the audience grab any chance at relief through the frequent jokes made. That said, it is a skilfully delivered, brave piece. The quality of Gould’s acting is excellent: so raw and truthful that we simply feel we are listening to a personal account.
The second part, Battle of the Trident, is a short play with Kelly Blaze as the lead – a love struck nerd of the highest order. It’s a well-structured piece using a touch of physical theatre to transition between scenes, and leaves us with a warm feeling inside. It’s essentially a rom-com, and what it lacks in message it makes up for with very well-referenced jokes about everything a fantasy nerd could desire – from Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones. The cast do an exceptional job – Amund Beck hits the tone of his moody geek perfectly. It’s not too over done, which would be an easy trap to fall into. Ryan Desaulnier is lovely to watch – he doesn’t miss a beat. Colin Henry Fewell is by and large very funny to watch; there was the odd moment he seemed to come out of it, but overall he plays a laid-back stoner type with panache. The writing in this piece is quick witted and naturally funny. It’s a pleasure to watch.
Kimberly Hoffman presents the final show, Shtick Up For Yourself, in which a comedian decides to tell the truth about her industry and the struggles of a woman trying to make it in a patriarchal society. Though it has a strong and admirable message, the package within which it is delivered fails to hit the balance between message and content. The idea of a comedian telling all is an interesting one, but it falls down to its own logic: that female comedians can’t tell the truth until they have made it big, and this comedian has not yet made it big. With some more work this could be a very interesting, witty and important production.
We have a collection of short plays brought together, but are left feeling that they are not quite well matched as a trio. The middle play could be expanded if the plot was worked on, and Gould’s monologue was so touching it could, potentially, be turned into a one woman show, though it may struggle to hold an audience for a full hour.
