Nuit
Created by Trip the Light Theatre Collective
Produced by Trip the light Theatre Collective (Ottawa, Canada)
60M
Content Notes: Mature Language, Nudity, Flashing Lights, Sexual Content
By Mac Dale
Nuit, presented by Trip The Light Theatre Collective as part of the Ottawa Fringe Festival, takes audiences on a thrilling and daring theatrical journey. With a talented ensemble of performers and a thought-provoking narrative, Nuit skillfully combines comedy, dance, and introspection, resulting in an unforgettable experience.
Led by director and choreographer Sophie Goyette-Hamels, the collective brings together a diverse cast of performers who leave a lasting impression. Sarah Ivanco, a producer, performer, and co-creator of Nuit, showcases her excellent comedic timing in all her characters, but most notably in her portrayal of DJ Air Porn, an obnoxious DJ with low self-esteem, delivering hilarious moments that keep the audience engaged during transitions between scenes. Ivanco also performs a burlesque-style dance which is used to demarcate the end of a wild night and the beginning of a morning of regrets and recovery.
Kristen Thompson, another performer and creator, portrays a trans youth navigating the challenges of coming out with new pronouns to their peers. Thompson’s character expresses angst while searching for the best choice of clothes to look like a gay boy, highlighting the complexity of identity and societal expectations.
Kate Addison, a performer and creator who has a knack for infusing her characters with perturbation and malaise, delivers a powerful performance in a notable scene involving a sexual assault. Her portrayal effectively conveys the raw emotions associated with such an event, showcasing Addison’s range and ability to elicit a strong emotional response from the audience.
Glenys Marshall, the fourth performer and creator, stands out with her musical talents, showcasing her singing, keytar, and guitar skills. Marshall’s exceptional comedic timing adds an additional layer of entertainment, lifting the overall energy of the production.
While the singing and dancing in Nuit are decent, it is the comedy that truly shine. It’s important to note there is no individual writer for this show. As a result, the story seems to lack cohesion in its point of view. If you are like this reviewer, you come to the Fringe for just this type of show! The characters are all well defined and have their own voice, and it feels like the performers are bringing a big piece of themselves to their multiple roles.
The story of Nuit centers around four queer youth, but their sexual orientation is not the sole focus. The narrative conveying a night filled with drunken dancing can be a universal misadventure filled with fun and folly, regardless of one’s identity.
Nuit is playing at LabO until June 25, 2023. Visit ottawafringe.com/fringe/ for the schedule and box office info. Read more reviews at https://apt613.ca/category/festival/fringe/.
.gif)
