Courtney Buchner’s I Wrote This Show Last Night is a fresh hour of comedy that plays with genre, form and style. Taking the concept of pre-Fringe panic to a whole new level, Buchner has written (and continues to write) a show that would charm even the grumpiest of punters.
A show that would charm even the grumpiest of punters.
With 40 days to put together a Fringe show, Buchner decided to workshop some material with her therapist. Ever the perfectionist and go-getter, she took it one step further and resolved to continue to change the script over the course of her Fringe run. Buchner tells four stories in every performance (each represented by a prop), one of which gets voted off at the end of the night and replaced by a new one the next day. Providing a fresh take on audience participation, this format makes for a dynamic performance that you can’t help but be invested in.
Buchner’s meta-theatrical deconstruction of a stand-up show is both clever and playful, providing us with insight into her creative process as well as showcasing her magnetism as a performer. As she takes to the stage with such ease and relaxation, Buchner creates a comforting environment that makes you feel like you are in her kitchen chit-chatting with a glass of wine in hand. The hectic outside world melts away as she weaves together her tales, each one focused on ‘figuring (something) out’ in her life. Her radiant and spontaneous delivery keeps these stories fresh and exciting, and there is certainly never a dull moment. In particular, the imitations of her South African parents are brilliant, as are her daringly revealing notes on their private lives, both of which make for hysterically funny material.
I Wrote This Show Last Night is an uplifting hour of storytelling that leaves you on high. With exposed personal stories, hilarious anecdotes and live workshopping, Buchner is bold, charming and wonderfully entertaining.
