Created by Steve Budd
Produced by Steve Budd | Oakland, USA
Review by Laura Gauthier and Samara Caplan
14+ / Comedy, Drama, Solo, Documentary Theatre, Dramedy, Romantic
Why is it that others seem to be able to find their soulmates when Steve Budd can’t? How much does a couple need to have in common to make it work? What if they’re not from the same religion or cultural background? What if one of them is from Jersey?
As he marks a milestone birthday, Budd thinks he might have finally found the one…or has he? He takes the audience through his journey and weaves multiple characters and stories as he interviews friends about what makes their relationship work, inviting the audience into his thoughts and insights as he questions and investigates the feelings he has for this new woman in his life.
Steve Budd in Oy, What They Said About Love. Photo by Cheshire Isaacs.
It will come as no surprise to hear that Budd is an award-winning actor when you see his polished and sharp show, where he seamlessly navigates characters, each with their own way of speaking and body language. With only two chairs onstage and no costumes or props, he manages to convey each character’s thoughts, feelings, hopes and perceptions as they talk through the complicated, or simple, nature of relationships.
With simple lighting cues and a bit of music, Budd conveys with ease the different locales of his story, allowing the audience to focus on his stellar performance which just seems like a genuine conversation he’s having with us — often breaking the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience and allowing us to see his joy, excitement, vulnerability and his self-analysis (with some help from special therapists).
If you’re looking for a sharp and insightful, polished show amongst your Fringe picks, be sure to see Oy, What They Said About Love.
Oy, What They Say About Love is playing at Atelier Theatre from June 12–21. Tickets are $14 plus service fees at the Fringe box office (3rd floor, Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave.), and at the three satellite box offices (LabO in the Ottawa Art Gallery, Fringe Courtyard, 67 Nicholas St and La Nouvelle Scène). Five and ten Show Passes are also available. Visit the Ottawa Fringe Festival’s website for the show’s schedule and check out their online schedule here.
